Presentation Profile
The Future of Environmentally Friendly and Sustainable Lubricant Formulations
Currently Scheduled: 10/12/2021 - 2:00 PM - 2:20 PM
Room: Poster Parkway
Main Author
Dr. Raj Shah - Koehler Instrument Company, Inc.
- Alex D’Acunto - Dept. Of Chemical Engineering, State Univ. of NY, Stony Brook
- Nathan Aragon - Koehler Instrument Company, Inc.
Abstract:
Lubricants have been, and continue to be, a vital tool in the multi-faceted field of chemical engineering. Their usage spans from the engine oils in planes that promote fuel efficiency to the hydraulic fluids in machinery that transmit power effectively; simply put, modern technology is highly dependent on lubricants. However, the increasing rate of depletion for the world's crude oil reserves has sparked a renewed interest in developing highly functional, renewable, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly lubricants. While this would be an amazing ideal to strive for, the technical specifications for lubricants are already very demanding to begin with without considering extraneous environmental criteria such as eco-toxicological properties complicating matters further. As the regulations from organizations such as the US Environmental Protection Association (EPA) and the American Chemistry Council (ACC) continue to push the lubricant industry down this environmentally friendly path, new lubricant formulations need to be developed. This poster will outline the challenges the lubricant industry must overcome as the demand for an environmentally friendly product soars.
