Synthesis of a Grease Thickener from Cashew Nut Shell Liquor
Thickener, also known as a gelling agent, is a critical component of lubricating greases. The most critical property of thickener, temperature resistance, is determined by the molecular structure of the compounds. Currently, all high-temperature-resistant thickeners are based on 12-hydroxystearic ac...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Molecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/22/7624 |
| _version_ | 1827639104418873344 |
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| author | Son A. Hoang Khanh D. Pham Nhung H. Nguyen Ha T. Tran Ngoc Hoang Chi M. Phan |
| author_facet | Son A. Hoang Khanh D. Pham Nhung H. Nguyen Ha T. Tran Ngoc Hoang Chi M. Phan |
| author_sort | Son A. Hoang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Thickener, also known as a gelling agent, is a critical component of lubricating greases. The most critical property of thickener, temperature resistance, is determined by the molecular structure of the compounds. Currently, all high-temperature-resistant thickeners are based on 12-hydroxystearic acid, which is exclusively produced from castor oil. Since castor oil is also an important reagent for other processes, finding a sustainable alternative to 12-hydroxystearic acid has significant economic implications. This study synthesises an alternative thickener from abundant agricultural waste, cashew nut shell liquor (CNSL). The synthesis and separation procedure contains three steps: (i) forming and separating calcium anacardate by precipitation, (ii) forming and separating anacardic acid (iii) forming lithium anacardate. The obtained lithium anacardate can be used as a thickener for lubricating grease. It was found that the recovery of anacardic acid was around 80%. The optimal reaction temperature and time conditions for lithium anacardate were 100 °C and 1 h, respectively. The method provides an economical alternative to castor and other vegetable oils. The procedure presents a simple pathway to produce the precursor for the lubricating grease from agricultural waste. The first reaction step can be combined with the existing distillation of cashew nut shell processing. An effective application can promote CNSL to a sustainable feedstock for green chemistry. The process can also be combined with recycled lithium from the spent batteries to improve the sustainability of the battery industry. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:33:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-176dc72ef11e4dbaa1c3a1c547fb574e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1420-3049 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T16:33:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Molecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-176dc72ef11e4dbaa1c3a1c547fb574e2023-11-24T14:58:27ZengMDPI AGMolecules1420-30492023-11-012822762410.3390/molecules28227624Synthesis of a Grease Thickener from Cashew Nut Shell LiquorSon A. Hoang0Khanh D. Pham1Nhung H. Nguyen2Ha T. Tran3Ngoc Hoang4Chi M. Phan5Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi 11355, VietnamInstitute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi 11355, VietnamInstitute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi 11355, VietnamViet Tri Industry Institute, Viet Tri 290000, VietnamGovernment Office, Hanoi 11355, VietnamDiscipline of Chemical Engineering, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, AustraliaThickener, also known as a gelling agent, is a critical component of lubricating greases. The most critical property of thickener, temperature resistance, is determined by the molecular structure of the compounds. Currently, all high-temperature-resistant thickeners are based on 12-hydroxystearic acid, which is exclusively produced from castor oil. Since castor oil is also an important reagent for other processes, finding a sustainable alternative to 12-hydroxystearic acid has significant economic implications. This study synthesises an alternative thickener from abundant agricultural waste, cashew nut shell liquor (CNSL). The synthesis and separation procedure contains three steps: (i) forming and separating calcium anacardate by precipitation, (ii) forming and separating anacardic acid (iii) forming lithium anacardate. The obtained lithium anacardate can be used as a thickener for lubricating grease. It was found that the recovery of anacardic acid was around 80%. The optimal reaction temperature and time conditions for lithium anacardate were 100 °C and 1 h, respectively. The method provides an economical alternative to castor and other vegetable oils. The procedure presents a simple pathway to produce the precursor for the lubricating grease from agricultural waste. The first reaction step can be combined with the existing distillation of cashew nut shell processing. An effective application can promote CNSL to a sustainable feedstock for green chemistry. The process can also be combined with recycled lithium from the spent batteries to improve the sustainability of the battery industry.https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/22/7624cashew nut shell liquoranacardic acidthickenerlubricantgreaselithium hydroxide |
| spellingShingle | Son A. Hoang Khanh D. Pham Nhung H. Nguyen Ha T. Tran Ngoc Hoang Chi M. Phan Synthesis of a Grease Thickener from Cashew Nut Shell Liquor Molecules cashew nut shell liquor anacardic acid thickener lubricant grease lithium hydroxide |
| title | Synthesis of a Grease Thickener from Cashew Nut Shell Liquor |
| title_full | Synthesis of a Grease Thickener from Cashew Nut Shell Liquor |
| title_fullStr | Synthesis of a Grease Thickener from Cashew Nut Shell Liquor |
| title_full_unstemmed | Synthesis of a Grease Thickener from Cashew Nut Shell Liquor |
| title_short | Synthesis of a Grease Thickener from Cashew Nut Shell Liquor |
| title_sort | synthesis of a grease thickener from cashew nut shell liquor |
| topic | cashew nut shell liquor anacardic acid thickener lubricant grease lithium hydroxide |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1420-3049/28/22/7624 |
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