ARS | Publication request: INDUSTRIAL USES OF SOYBEAN OIL: APPLICABILITY OF CHEMICALLY MODIFIED VEGETABLE OIL FOR LUBRICANTS

Submitted to: United States Japan Natural Resources Protein Panel
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: October 31, 1998
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: United States agriculture produces over 12 billion pounds of soybean oil annually, and frequently carry-over exceeds 1 billion pounds. Only 300 million pounds of soybean oil are used in industrial applications. Non- food uses of soybean oil and other vegetable oils have grown little during the past 40 years. At the Oil Chemical Research Unit (ARS, USDA, NCAUR), we investigate and develop economically feasible new industrial products from soybean oil and thus, enhance its domestic and export market. One example is the preparation of lubricant basestocks from chemically modified vegetable oils (with emphasis on soybean oil). Major concerns for vegetable oils are their low oxidative stability and poor low temperature performance. In our study, vegetable oils were modified chemically to reduce their Iodine Value and improve viscometric properties without compromising biodegradability. Although oxidative stability testing did not show desired improvement, low temperature properties in many respects was better than that of original oils. Studies for oxidative stability improvements with genetic and/or chemical modification of triglycerides are continuing.