Synthesis and evaluation of modified cottonseed oil methyl ester as a novel biofuels

Vegetable oils have been explored as eco-friendly alternatives to mineral oil lubricants. To achieve the required properties, specific chemical modifications are necessary. This study focuses on synthesizing eco-friendly metalworking fluids based on modified cottonseed oil and subsequently converting them into biofuels suitable for internal diesel combustion engines. The experimental section outlines the optimized conditions for the epoxidation and hydroxylation of cottonseed oil, as well as the transesterification process to obtain the biofuel. The epoxidation conversion reached 93%, while the hydroxylation yielded 66%. It was observed that the modified fluids exhibited improved oxidative resistance, resulting in the apparent activation energy for the oxidative process increasing by 50%. The physical and chemical characteristics of the biofuel were determined and compared to the requirements for biodiesel. The density, heating value, and cetane number of the new biofuels were better or similar to traditional biodiesel, indicating that these new biofuels could work as substitutes for traditional biodiesel. However, the new biofuels exhibited less favorable results for properties, such as flash point and Cold Filter Plugging Point (CFPP), in comparison to commercial biodiesel. These findings underscore the necessity for meticulous storage practices, secure handling procedures, and the avoidance of temperatures exceeding 6 °C. This study presents a pathway for synthesizing eco-friendly metalworking fluids and converting them into biofuels, contributing to sustainability efforts in the manufacturing industry while addressing the environmental concerns associated with metalworking fluid waste.