Synthesis of biodegradable lubricating oils by methyl and ethyl epoxidation of castor oil esters

This work consisted in the production of biolubricants from castor oil using oil transesterification, followed by methyl and ethyl epoxidation of its esters (biodiesel). The materials involved do not process foram characterized through their chemical and physical-chemical properties. The transesterification, which transforms the oil into biodiesel, provides a yield of 94% for the methyl biodiesel and 92.7% for the ethyl biodiesel. It is epoxidation, a reaction that transforms biodiesel into biolubricant, leading to a yield of 91.3% for methyl biolubricant and 87.6% for ethyl biolubricant. The products obtained have their adequate properties in comparison with the parameters established by the National Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels Agency. In this way, the production of biodegradable lubricants will be able to significantly help in reducing the environmental impact of the use of fossil materials for the production of lubricants.