Modified tung oil-based fatty acid esters used as diesel additives give improved lubricity

Authors: Liu, Zengshe - Kevin; JING, LI - Chinese Academy Of Forestry; KNOTHE, GERHARD - Former ARS Employee; SHARMA, BRAJENDRA - University Of Illinois; JIANGCHUNG, JIANG - Chinese Academy Of Forestry

Submitted to: American Chemical Society National Meeting
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/10/2019
Publication Date: 5/28/2019
Citation: Liu, Z., Jing, L., Knothe, G., Sharma, B.K., Jiangchung, J. 2019. Modified tung oil-based fatty acid esters used as diesel additives give improved lubricity [abstract]. American Chemical Society National Meeting & Expo.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Modern ultra-low-sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuels require additives in order to have sufficient lubricity. We reported here the synthesis of new additives starting with tung oil fatty acid methyl ester (eleostearic acid methyl ester, EAME). The synthesis starts by forming the maleation compound (EAME/MA) of EAME and the resultant EAME/MA reacts with methanol or butanol to form the ester products, EAME/MA/ME and EAME/MA/BU, respectively. Both the EAMA/MA/ME and EAME/MA/BU compounds effectively enhanced the lubricity of ULSD, even at low additive levels. In the high-frequency reciprocating rig (HFRR) lubricity tests, the wear scar and friction of ULSD was reduced by 40% and 46-47%, by the additives, even at only 500 ppm concentration. This is 20-40 times lower than the level of ordinary biodiesel typically used, 1-2%. Addition of EAME/MA/BU at a level of 1000ppm into oils such as 0150H GP1 Base Oil and 166 POA also gave significant wear scar values, with reduction of 25% and 26%, respectively.