ABSTRACT

This thesis aimed at the production of biolubricant from Jatropha oils. The first stage producedmethyl ester of the oil and in the second stage; the methyl ester was transesterified with Ethylene glycor a ratio of 3.5:1 at 150°C to produce the biolubricant. The acid value for the oil was significantly very high for biolubricant production. The pour points of the biolubricant was  significantly improved when compared to that of raw oils. The pour point for Jatropha oil improved from 3.8 to -11Similarly the viscosity index of Jatropha oil was found to be 191. 55, Temperature was found to affect the viscosity of the oil, as the temperature increases  30°C to 100°C a corresponding reduction in viscosity by 64.0, 52.1,37.0,26.0,19.0,14.1, 13.0, 8.75cSt.The FTIR Analysis performed showed the located the functional groups present in the biolubricant. It was found that the biolubricant produced was comparable to the ISO VG-32 and VG-46 commercial standards for light and industrial gears applications respectively. Biolubricant was found to display little or no corrosive change during the experimental corrosion testing.