Biobased lubricants harnessing the richness of agriculture resources / Robiah Yunus

Includes bibliographical references

In Malaysia, the availability of diversified biomass feedstocks such as sugars, oils, protein, lignocellulosics, combined with numerous biochemical, thermo and chemical conversion technologies, offers a wealth of products that are useful in many applications. Target applications include polymer, lubricant, solvent, adhesive, herbicide, and pharmaceutical industries. Many of these industrial biobased products have already penetrated the markets, but improved technologies promise new products that can compete with fossil-based products in both cost and performance aspects. Among these markets, the biolubricant market represents an enormous potential for biobased products. Despite the increased popularity of the biobased or green products, the development of these products is a challenge because the sustainability aspect of these biobased chemicals is still being dispute. The possibility of achieving the environmental sustainability is questioned—considering the environmental degradation, climate change, overconsumption, and the pursuit of economic balance within the closed system. To tackle these issues effectively requires reverting to fundamental principles that govern the technologies that produce these chemicals. Are these technologies efficient and effective? (Developing technology that uses less energy produces less waste, and safer to environment). This is the paradigm shift of the early 21st century; innovating technologies for sustainable development. Ways of reducing negative impacts on human are also paramount which entails environmental-friendly engineering, environmental resources management and environmental protection.Lubricants which are both readily biodegradable and non-toxic to humans and environments are known as biobased lubricant or biolubricant. A biolubricant can be any plant oil or synthetic esters, which are derived from plant oils. In pursuit of environmentally friendly chemical engineering, various biolubricants from synthetic esters derive