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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Bio-oils Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #270712
Title: Isothermal thermogravimetric analysis of soybean oil oxidation correlated to thin film micro-oxidation test methods

Author
item ARCA, MERT - Pennsylvania State University
item SHARMA, BRAJENDRA - University Of Illinois
item PEREZ, JOSEPH - Pennsylvania State University
item Doll, Kenneth - Ken

Submitted to: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/13/2012
Publication Date: 3/20/2012
Citation: Arca, M., Sharma, B.K., Perez, J.M., Doll, K.M. 2012. Isothermal thermogravimetric analysis of soybean oil oxidation correlated to thin film micro-oxidation test methods. Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research. 51:3550-3555.

Interpretive Summary: The study of lubricants can sometimes be a difficult task. This is especially true in the area of biobased lubricants, where oxidation can be a significant problem. A test called the Thin-Film Micro Oxidation test has been shown to be an effective benchmark of lubricant performance. However, this test is not widely available and its use requires a specially trained technician. Thermogravimetric analysis is a readily available technique utilized in almost all chemistry and materials labs. It has been used to look at vegetable oil oxidation but, until now, not correlated with the more difficult method. This study undertakes that correlation, which will allow the study of biobased lubricants in many labs as opposed to a select few. This will lead to more wide-spread acceptance of soybean oil based lubricants and will benefit those formulators wishing to take advantage of what bio-based materials can offer.

Technical Abstract: A method of correlation between the Thin Film Micro-Oxidation (TFMO) test with isothermal thermogravimetric analysis is reported utilizing a soybean oil system. Utilizing a kinetic model, pseudo-rate constants and “activation energy” can be calculated from weight loss data. This model accounts for oxidation, polymerization and formation of high molecular weight deposits. It also includes evaporation of each of the species. These parameters can be used in simple computer simulations which can calculate the weight of each component of a lubricant as it decays. Additionally, the difficult to obtain TFMO data can be simulated by readily available laboratory equipment.