Abstract

The present project intends to:

• Promote the use of vegetable oils derivatives in unusual lubricant applications;
• Solve the problem of poor oxidation stability of vegetable oils, using short chain fatty acids: Their poor stability towards the oxygen attack is due to the double bonds, which are present on the fatty acid chain. Ester lubricants prepared starting from short chain saturated fatty acids are stable and in use for aviation applications. Unfortunately these esters have low viscosity and can't be used for the current heavy duty applications;
• Solve the problem of low viscosity of short chain fatty acids esters, using dicarboxylic acids (such as adipic, sebacic or azelaic) as condensing agents between two alcoholic moieties;
• Support Biodiesel manufacturers to improve economics of production plants. Actually, in the EU, biodiesel production has two limits: the first starids in a limited allowed tax free production for each manufacturer and the second depends on the seasonal biodiesel request concentrated during the winter period because it is used as heating fuel. These two combined facts make biodiesel plants under utilised and fixed costs must be charged only to limited amounts of finished product. With little and cheap modifications, these plants could be used also for ester synthesis;
• Offer new opportunities for EU farmers.

Contacts

Coordinator

• Pierbenito GIANNONI / Columbe SRL ITALY

Participant

• Rafael SALAZAR GARCIABLANCO / Aceites Ecologicos SA SPAIN