ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS OF A BIOLUBRICANT USING LAGENARIA BRIVIFLORA SEED OIL
Abstract
Biolubricants play a significant role in promoting sustainability in Africa due to their eco-friendly characteristics, potential to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and opportunities for local production. By promoting biolubricants, Africa can move towards a more sustainable future, reducing environmental impact, fostering economic growth, and improving social well-being, This work investigated the impact of biolubricant on the environment specifically on water and soil. Extraction of oil from the seeds of Lagenaria breviflora was done using Soxhlet apparatus and n-hexane as the solvent. Physical and chemical characteristics of the oil were examined, and the results indicate that the extracted oil was a liquid at room temperature, brownish in colour, and odorous. The results were as follows: density (0.8953 g/cm3), FFA (13.8), peroxide value (3.94 MeqO2/kg), acid value (26.162 mgKOH/g), saponification value (253.571 mgKOH/g), and value for oxidation (3.94 MeqO2/kg). FTIR and GC-MS analysis were also used to characterize the oil. The study' findings show that the extracted oil is of good grade. Esterification and transesterification of the oil was carried out to produce the biolubricant used for the study. The biolubricant was compared with that of the petroleum lubricant in terms of environmental safety and compared with World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The water quality parameters analysed includes temperature, pH, electrical conductivity (EC), dissolved oxygen (DO), biological oxygen demand (BOD), and chemical oxygen demand (COD). The environmental impact of both lubricants on soil was carried out by monitoring the growth rate of plant when exposed to the soil contaminated by these lubricants. Three samples were prepared, A (Control), B (biolubricant contaminated water) and sample C (petroleum lubricant contaminated water). The growth rate of beans seed planted on the contaminated soil was monitored. The result showed sample B to be better that sample C, highlighting that the biolubricant was more suitable than the petroleum lubricant in terms of environmental safety consideration.
