Egyptian researchers produce grease from jojoba oil

Grease from jojoba oil

Grease from jojoba oil – In a scientific article published in the journal Nature, researchers from Egypt presented a new grease made from jojoba oil and activated carbon nanoparticles (ACNPs) extracted from banana peel waste. Jojoba is a plant grown in arid and desert soils and can be an interesting source for the economy of countries with this characteristic.

Jojoba oil is already widely used as a cosmetic with moisturizing properties for the skin and hair. The research presented shows that the product can also be used to manufacture sustainable greases.

According to the researchers, crude jojoba oil and ACNPs are first characterized by structural properties. Jojoba grease samples were mixed with 0.5 and 1.5% by weight. % ACNPs are prepared and tested for physicochemical and tribological properties in comparison with simple jojoba grease.

The addition of ACNPs to jojoba grease improves corrosion resistance from grade 2c to 1a, while increasing the dropping point from 100 to 109°C and the viscosity of jojoba oil by up to 33% for testing in the temperature range of 40 –100°C.

The loading capacity of jojoba grease increases by about 60% when mixed with 1.5% by weight of ACNPs. The same mixture decreased the friction coefficient and wear scar diameter by 38% and 24%, respectively.

Custom test equipment was used to test the effectiveness of grease samples in lubricating bearings in terms of vibration levels and energy consumption. The new jojoba grease has proven to deliver exceptional reductions in energy consumption, up to 25%.

Vibration spectra show the absence of resonant peaks at high frequencies, suggesting the ability of jojoba grease to form a complete and stable lubrication film.
More details of the research can be found on the Nature magazine website.