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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 19 records
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Data for Development of Vegetative Oil Sorghum: From Lab-to-Field

Biomass crops engineered to accumulate energy-dense triacylglycerols (TAG or ‘vegetable oils’) in their vegetative tissues have emerged as potential feedstocks to meet the growing demand for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Unlike oil palm and oilseed crops, the current commercial sources of TAG, vegetative tissues, such as leaves and stems, only transiently accumulate TAG. In this report, we used grain (Texas430 or TX430) and sugar-accumulating ‘sweet’ (Ramada) genotypes of sorghum, a high-yielding, environmentally resilient biomass crop, to accumulate TAG in leaves and stems. We initially tested several gene combinations for a ‘push-pull-protect’ strategy. The top TAG-yielding constructs contained five oil transgenes for a sorghum WRINKLED1 transcription factor (‘push’), a Cuphea viscosissima diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT; ‘pull’), a modified sesame oleosin (‘protect’) and two combinations of specialized Cuphea lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferases and medium-chain acyl-acyl carrier protein thioesterases. Though intended to generate oils with medium-chain fatty acids, engineered lines accumulated oleic acid-rich oil to amounts of up to 2.5% DW in leaves and 2.0% DW in stems in the greenhouse, 36-fold and 49-fold increases relative to wild-type (WT) plants, respectively. Under field conditions, the top-performing event accumulated TAG to amount to 5.5% DW in leaves and 3.5% DW in stems, 78-fold and 58-fold increases, respectively, relative to WT TX430. Transcriptomic and fluxomic analyses revealed potential bottlenecks for increased TAG accumulation. Overall, our studies highlight the utility of a lab-to-field pipeline coupled with systems biology studies to deliver high vegetative oil sorghum for SAF and renewable diesel production.

Biofuels↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development of vegetative oil sorghum: From lab‐to‐field

Summary Biomass crops engineered to accumulate energy‐dense triacylglycerols (TAG or ‘vegetable oils’) in their vegetative tissues have emerged as potential feedstocks to meet the growing demand for renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Unlike oil palm and oilseed crops, the current commercial sources of TAG, vegetative tissues, such as leaves and stems, only transiently accumulate TAG. In this report, we used grain (Texas430 or TX430) and sugar‐accumulating ‘sweet’ (Ramada) genotypes of sorghum, a high‐yielding, environmentally resilient biomass crop, to accumulate TAG in leaves and stems. We initially tested several gene combinations for a ‘push‐pull‐protect’ strategy. The top TAG‐yielding constructs contained five oil transgenes for a sorghum WRINKLED1 transcription factor (‘push’), a Cuphea viscosissima diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT; ‘pull’), a modified sesame oleosin (‘protect’) and two combinations of specialized Cuphea lysophosphatidic acid acyltransferases and medium‐chain acyl‐acyl carrier protein thioesterases. Though intended to generate oils with medium‐chain fatty acids, engineered lines accumulated oleic acid‐rich oil to amounts of up to 2.5% DW in leaves and 2.0% DW in stems in the greenhouse, 36‐fold and 49‐fold increases relative to wild‐type (WT) plants, respectively. Under field conditions, the top‐performing event accumulated TAG to amount to 5.5% DW in leaves and 3.5% DW in stems, 78‐fold and 58‐fold increases, respectively, relative to WT TX430. Transcriptomic and fluxomic analyses revealed potential bottlenecks for increased TAG accumulation. Overall, our studies highlight the utility of a lab‐to‐field pipeline coupled with systems biology studies to deliver high vegetative oil sorghum for SAF and renewable diesel production.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Characterizing the Potential for Sustainable Azelaic Acid Production from High-Oleic Vegetable Oil Using Two-Step Oxidative Cleavage

Azelaic acid is a renewable monomer conventionally produced via the energy-intensive ozonolysis of oleic acid. Recent advancements have enabled the use of high-oleic vegetable oils (rather than tallow-derived oleic acid) and replaced ozonolysis with two-step oxidative cleavage using hydrogen and oxygen. Although this shift would improve process safety, the financial viability and environmental implications remain uncertain. In this study, we characterized the sustainability of azelaic acid production from high-oleic vegetable oil using two-step oxidative cleavage. Process design, simulation, technoeconomic analysis (TEA), and life cycle assessment (LCA) were executed under uncertainty using BioSTEAM. The modeled system produces azelaic acid at a market-competitive minimum selling price (MSP) of 8.32 [4.93−13.34] $\$kg$ −1 (median 5th−95th percentiles), below the minimum estimated market price of 9.93 $\$kg$ −1 . Further, it has the potential to approach carbon neutrality (0.0 [−5.5 to 5.6] kg of CO 2 -eq kg −1 ) under displacement allocation. Improvements to dihydroxylation (86 to 99%) and oxidative cleavage conversions (93 to 99%) would reduce MSP to $\$5.24$ kg −1 and carbon intensity to −1.90 kg of CO 2 -eq kg −1 (displacement). Additionally, increasing the feedstock triolein content (75 to 85%) lowers MSP by $\$0.82$ kg −1 . Overall, this research demonstrates the potential for financially viable production of azelaic acid from vegetable oils and the utility of agile TEA/LCA.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Packaging “vegetable oils”: Insights into plant lipid droplet proteins

Abstract Plant neutral lipids, also known as “vegetable oils”, are synthesized within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane and packaged into subcellular compartments called lipid droplets (LDs) for stable storage in the cytoplasm. The biogenesis, modulation, and degradation of cytoplasmic LDs in plant cells are orchestrated by a variety of proteins localized to the ER, LDs, and peroxisomes. Recent studies of these LD-related proteins have greatly advanced our understanding of LDs not only as steady oil depots in seeds but also as dynamic cell organelles involved in numerous physiological processes in different tissues and developmental stages of plants. In the past 2 decades, technology advances in proteomics, transcriptomics, genome sequencing, cellular imaging and protein structural modeling have markedly expanded the inventory of LD-related proteins, provided unprecedented structural and functional insights into the protein machinery modulating LDs in plant cells, and shed new light on the functions of LDs in nonseed plant tissues as well as in unicellular algae. Here, we review critical advances in revealing new LD proteins in various plant tissues, point out structural and mechanistic insights into key proteins in LD biogenesis and dynamic modulation, and discuss future perspectives on bridging our knowledge gaps in plant LD biology.

Cai, Yingqi (ORCID:0000000203575809)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Investigations on the Thermal Stability and Kinetics of Biolubricants Synthesized from Different Types of Vegetable Oils

Petroleum-based lubricants raise environmental concerns due to their non-biodegradability and toxicity, whereas biobased lubricants underperform owing to low thermal stability. This study examined and compared three vegetable oils, along with their chemically modified versions, to better understand their suitability as biolubricants. High oleic soybean oil (HOSOY), regular soybean oil (RSOY), and waste cooking oil (WCO) were subjected to chemical modification, where isopropyl groups were attached to the fatty acid chains of the oils to produce branched oils, i.e., b-HOSOY, b-RSOY, and b-WCO. The detailed kinetic study of each regular and modified sample was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis. The kinetic parameters, such as the activation energies, reaction rate, and pre-exponential factor, were generated via Friedman methods. The differential thermal gravimetric (DTG) analysis showed low volatilization at the onset temperature in each modified oil as compared with the unmodified samples under an oxidative environment. Furthermore, the comparative kinetic studies demonstrated the enhanced thermoxidative stability of the modified products relative to their unaltered counterparts. Among the tested oils, the b-RSOY showed an average activation energy of 325 kJ/mol, followed by the b-WCO: 300 kJ/mol and the b-HOSOY: 251 kJ/mol, indicating the most stable modified product under an oxidative environment. For all the samples, the pre-exponential factors were in good agreement with the activation energies, which validates that finding the pre-exponential components is crucial to the kinetic analysis.

Sarker, Majher I. (ORCID:0000000299509274)↗
DOE OSTI2026

Ni Mediated Carboxylation and Oxidation of PE to C12/C14 Fatty Acids: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-22-22451

Given its chemical structure, polyethylene (PE) waste may be a viable feedstock for the production of linear fatty alcohols (FALCs), a major surfactant produced either from palm kernel oil, vegetable oils, or via synthetic pathways that are associated with high carbon footprint. The BOTTLE Consortium will collaborate with Procter & Gamble (P&G) to develop FALCs from waste PE feedstocks.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Co-Hydrotreatment of Pyrolytic Lignin and Waste Cooking Oil to Produce Hydrocarbons

The co-hydrotreatment of pyrolysis bio-oils and vegetable oils could facilitate the integration of bioderived fuels into existing fuel infrastructures without significant modifications. Co-hydrotreatment studies with different PL/WCO blend ratios (0, 10, 20, 30, and 40 wt %) were conducted over the NiMo/γ-Al 2 O 3 catalyst. The coke formation value for WCO was 0.7 wt % and ranged between 1.5 and 2.5 wt % with the increase of pyrolytic lignin in the blend. The data suggest that coke is formed from both the sugar- and lignin-derived oligomers since the coke yield reported in this study is comparable with the coke yield obtained by coprocessing the bio-oil fraction without light oxygenate compounds, based on previous studies. All blends are recommended for co-hydrotreatment based on coke yield. The resulting organic phase was distilled into hydrocarbons at <150 °C, 150 to 250 °C, and 250 to 350 °C. The organic product’s overall hydrocarbon distribution was strongly dependent on the pyrolytic lignin concentration. The yield of the distillation cut with a boiling point range between 250 and 350 °C was higher in the hydrotreated samples, with more than 20% during distillation. Two-dimensional GC×GC was used to determine carbon distribution on the combustibles. FTIR and UV fluorescence spectra showed that most feedstocks were converted to potential combustibles for transportation applications after hydrotreatment. The distillation cuts properties, such as density, viscosity, and surface tension, were reported and compared to transportation fuel properties. Hydrocarbon yields reveal the potential of cohydrotreatment to upgrade pyrolytic lignin into valuable products. Furthermore, these findings provide useful insights into utilizing pyrolytic lignin to produce promising combustibles suitable for transportation applications.

co-hydrotreatment↗
DOE OSTI2024

Surface Modified Fly Ash for Value Added Products (SuMo Fly Ash)

The objective of this project is to develop a technology to encapsulate coal fly ash particles in sulfurized vegetable oil, enhancing physical and mechanical properties of the fly ash as a filler material when applied in commercial products. This project significantly advances the knowledge base and technology for synthesizing coated fly ash particles for application in different polymer matrices to increase cross-linking, compatibility, air-entrainment and to decrease the leaching potential of metals of concern. Specifically, the project focuses on (a) collection, and characterization of fly ash material from coal power plants; (b) development of Sulfurized Vegetable Oil (SVO) modified (SuMo) fly ash and their detailed characterization; (c) evaluation of the mechanical properties of the SuMo fly ash incorporated plastic and rubber composites for potential replacement of CaCO 3 or carbon black as filler materials with SuMo fly ash in plastic and rubber composites; (d) leaching potential of SuMo fly ash and SuMo fly ash-incorporated plastic and rubber composites to determine the rate of release of trace metals. The major findings of this project are: i) Sulfurized Vegetable Oil coated fly ash (SuMo fly ash) was successfully prepared with a particle size of ≤ 45 micron which exhibited hydrophobicity of contact angle > 90°; ii) the coating reduces leaching of metals (e.g., B, Cr) from fly ash when exposed to water; iii) incorporation of SuMo fly ash increases thermal stability and yield strength of plastics; iv) SuMo coating helps disperse fly ash particles into cured rubbers, natural rubber; (v) SuMo fly ash-incorporated plastic/cured rubbers compounds protects against leaching of toxic elements.

20 FOSSIL-FUELED POWER PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Quantifying Phospholipids in Organic Samples Using a Hydrophilic Interaction Liquid Chromatography–Inductively Coupled Plasma High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HILIC-ICP-HRMS) Method

Here, in this study, a novel method using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) coupled with inductively coupled plasma high-resolution mass spectrometry (ICP-HRMS) was introduced for the quantification of phospholipids in oil samples. The method employed a bridged ethyl hybrid (BEH) stationary phase HILIC column with a tetrahydrofuran (THF)/water mobile phase, enhancing the solubility and detection of phospholipids. During the study, a gradient/matrix effect on ICP-HRMS sensitivity was observed and successfully compensated for experimentally, ensuring reliable quantification results. This approach has proven effective for a wide range of different oil samples including vegetable oils, animal fats, and phospholipid supplements. Notably, this method allowed the direct quantification of phospholipids in oil samples, bypassing the need for prior sample preparation methods, such as solid phase extraction (SPE), thereby streamlining the analytical process. The precision, accuracy, and reduced need for extensive sample preparation offered by this method mark a significant advancement in lipids analysis. Its robustness and broad applicability have substantial implications for industries such as food and renewable energy production, where both efficient and accurate lipid identification and quantification are crucial.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Palm oil deoxygenation with glycerol as a hydrogen donor for renewable fuel production using nickel-molybdenum catalysts: The effect of support

Palm oil, one of the most widely used vegetable oils, offers significant potential as a sustainable feedstock for biofuel production. This study explores the deoxygenation of palm oil using glycerol as a hydrogen donor, with nickel-molybdenum (NiMo) catalysts supported on commercial alumina (Al 2 O 3 ), and zeolite (HZSM-5) comparing with self-prepared zirconia (ZrO 2 ). The catalysts were synthesized via incipient wetness impregnation and evaluated for their performance in biofuel production. NiMo/Al 2 O 3 exhibited the lowest oxygen removal efficiency (68.5 %), while NiMo/HZSM-5 achieved a higher oxygen removal (74.3 %) but also demonstrated the highest coke formation. The type of support material influenced the resulting biofuel range, with NiMo/HZSM-5 and NiMo/ZrO 2 favoring jet fuel production, whereas NiMo/Al 2 O 3 was more suitable for diesel production. Notably, NiMo/ZrO 2 exhibited the highest performance in palm oil deoxygenation while minimizing coke formation. These findings highlight NiMo/ZrO 2 as a promising catalyst for efficient and stable biofuel production, with the support material significantly influencing product yield and fuel quality.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Metal Phosphide Nanoparticles Generated via a Molecular Precursor Route for Hydrotreatment of Methyl Laurate

Transition metal phosphide nanoparticles supported on silica were used as catalysts to investigate the hydrodeoxygenation of methyl laurate (used as a model compound for vegetable oils). Ni 2 P, Ni 1 Mo 1 P, and Ni 1.6 Mo 0.4 P were synthesized using a molecular precursor route. The nanoparticles were added to the silica support without any changes in their structure or particle size. As a reference and for comparison, MoP/SiO 2 was also prepared by the phosphite method. The prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and chemical analysis. A higher conversion is reached with the MoP/SiO 2 monometallic catalyst, close to that with Ni 1 Mo 1 P/SiO 2 . However, this observation is misleading because the differences in dispersion obscure the result that the intrinsic activity (turnover frequency) of the bimetallic catalyst, prepared by a molecular precursor route, is significantly higher than that of the monometallic catalyst, prepared by the phosphite route, revealing a synergistic effect on the catalytic activity due to the formation of the bimetallic phosphide.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Diesel Oxidation Catalyst Performance with Biodiesel Formulations

Biodiesel (i.e., mono-alkyl esters of long chain fatty acids derived from vegetable oils and animal fats) is a renewable diesel fuel providing life-cycle greenhouse gas emission reductions relative to petroleum-derived diesel. With the expectation that there would be widespread use of biodiesel as a substitute for ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD), there have been many studies looking into the effects of biodiesel on engine and aftertreatment, particularly its compatibility to the current aftertreatment technologies. The objective of this study was to generate experimental data to measure the effectiveness of a current technology diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC) to oxidize soy-based biodiesel at various blend levels with ULSD. Biodiesel blends from 0 to 100% were evaluated on an engine using a conventional DOC. In the steady-state performance test where fuel dosing rate was increased at fixed DOC inlet temperature, B20 performed similarly to ULSD at the lowest flow rate or exhaust temperature over 340 degrees C for medium and high flows. B50 blends performed nearly as well under most conditions. Higher blends exhibited reduced thermal efficiency and DOC outlet temperature with increasing dosing rate under most conditions and required exhaust temperatures over 400 degrees C to achieve or nearly achieve performance similar to ULSD. In the steady-state light of test where fuel dosing rate is fixed but exhaust temperature is increased incrementally, B20 generally performed similarly to ULSD at the highest inlet temperature, with only minor deficiencies at lower temperatures. Higher blends exhibited lower thermal efficiency and did not achieve as high DOC outlet temperatures. In the transient light-off test light-off temperature for ULSD was typically less than 225 degrees C, while for B100 it ranged from 290 degrees C to 330 degrees C. Based on the data set, it can be concluded that biodiesel fuels have a higher light-off temperature primarily because of their higher boiling points, with a minor secondary impact of their lower energy content.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS,BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Data for Scale-up of Microbial Lipid and Bioethanol Production from Oilcane

Microbial oils are a sustainable biomass-derived substitute for liquid fuels and vegetable oils. Oilcane, an engineered sugarcane with superior feedstock characteristics for biodiesel production, is a promising candidate for bioconversion. This study describes the processing of oilcane stems into juice and hydrothermally pretreated lignocellulosic hydrolysate and their valorization to ethanol and microbial oil using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and engineered Rhodosporidium toruloides strains, respectively. A bioethanol titer of 106 g/L was obtained from S. cerevisiae grown on oilcane juice in a 3 L fermenter, and a lipid titer of 8.8 g/L was obtained from R. toruloides grown on oilcane hydrolysate in a 75 L fermenter. Oil was extracted from the R. toruloides cells using supercritical CO2, and the observed fatty acid profile was consistent with previous studies on this strain. These results demonstrate the feasibility of pilot-scale lipid production from oilcane hydrolysate as part of an integrated bioconversion strategy.

Bioproducts↗
DOE OSTI2025

Developing Microalgae-Based Non-Isocyanate Polyurethane Foam Materials

Polyurethane is a versatile material with a wide range of applications in the production of foam products such as car seats, mattresses, footwear, insulation foam, and more. The traditional process for producing polyurethane foam involves the fast reaction of isocyanate with water, which generates CO2 as a blowing agent. However, the use of isocyanate has raised concerns due to its potential for causing allergic reactions and aspiration symptoms. This has led to increased regulation of isocyanate, leading to a growing interest in developing alternatives. Non-isocyanate polyurethane (NIPU) has emerged as a promising alternative to traditional toxic PU production. The most promising approach for producing NIPU is the aminolysis of cyclic carbonate with diamine. The NIPU produced through this process has a polyhydroxyurethane structure, which is similar to traditional PU chemistry. We have demonstrated that microalgal oil is a favored feedstock, as it can provide high reactivity for industrial applications. However, the NIPU production process does not generate gas, and a blowing agent is required to achieve the desired foam structure. One of the challenges in producing NIPU foam is to match the bubble formation and curing rates. We have developed a novel approach to producing NIPU foam that utilizes carbamate as a bifunctional blowing and crosslinking agent. We have used vegetable oil and microalgal oil as feedstocks to produce various NIPU for characterization. The development of microalgal NIPU provides an exciting opportunity for reducing the environmental impact of foam production and improving the safety of the materials used in the production process. The production of value-added NIPU foam can also drive down the cost of microalgal biorefinery, advancing the commercialization of microalgal biofuel.

algae↗
DOE OSTI2025

Polyhydroxybutyrate laminated trilayer films with enhanced barrier and mechanical properties for active food packaging

Polysaccharides such as starch and chitosan have been explored for sustainable food packaging films. However, their inherent hydrophilicity and brittleness cause poor water vapor barrier performance and limited mechanical properties. To address these issues, starch was first functionalized with acetoacetate groups and subsequently blended with chitosan. Dynamic cross-linking occurred between the acetoacetate groups and the primary amine groups of chitosan, forming vinylogous urethane linkages that reduced the water solubility of the films while preserving high mechanical strength. With 30 wt% of glycerol as a plasticizer, the resulting films showed a tensile strength of up to 24.68 MPa and an elongation at break of up to 83.96%. To improve the barrier properties, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), plasticized with 5-15 wt% epoxidized vegetable oil, was laminated on top of the chitosan/modified starch films, resulting in a significantly reduced water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) of 66%. Additional components, such as food colors like β-carotene were incorporated into this layer to make UV-protective films. A third layer of PHB without active additives was then coated to further reduce WVTR by 99%. Therefore, this multilayer lamination strategy effectively enhanced the barrier and mechanical properties of the polysaccharide-based packaging films.

Active packaging↗
DOE OSTI2024

Genome-wide identification and diversity of FAD2, FAD3 and FAE1 genes in terms of biotechnological importance in Camelina species

False flax, or gold-of-pleasure (Camelina sativa) is an oilseed that has received renewed research interest as a promising vegetable oil feedstock for liquid biofuel production and other non-food uses. This species has also emerged as a model for oilseed biotechnology research that aims to enhance seed oil content and fatty acid quality. To date, a number of genetic engineering and gene editing studies on C. sativa have been reported. Among the most common targets for this research are genes, encoding fatty acid desaturases, elongases, and diacylglycerol acyltransferases. However, the majority of these genes in C. sativa are present in multiple copies due to the allohexaploid nature of the species. Therefore, genetic manipulations require a comprehensive understanding of the diversity of such gene targets.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Whole metagenome sequencing and 16S rRNA gene amplicon analyses reveal the complex microbiome responsible for the success of enhanced in-situ reductive dechlorination (ERD) of a tetrachloroethene-contaminated Superfund site

The North Railroad Avenue Plume (NRAP) Superfund site in New Mexico, USA exemplifies successful chlorinated solvent bioremediation. NRAP was the result of leakage from a dry-cleaning that operated for 37 years. The presence of tetrachloroethene biodegradation byproducts, organohalide respiring genera (OHRG), and reductive dehalogenase (rdh) genes detected in groundwater samples indicated that enhanced reductive dechlorination (ERD) was the remedy of choice. This was achieved through biostimulation by mixing emulsified vegetable oil into the contaminated aquifer. This report combines metagenomic techniques with site monitoring metadata to reveal new details of ERD. DNA extracts from groundwater samples collected prior to and at four, 23 and 39 months after remedy implementation were subjected to whole metagenome sequencing (WMS) and 16S rRNA gene amplicon (16S) analyses. The response of the indigenous NRAP microbiome to ERD protocols is consistent with results obtained from microcosms, dechlorinating consortia, and observations at other contaminated sites. WMS detects three times as many phyla and six times as many genera as 16S. Both techniques reveal abundance changes in Dehalococcoides and Dehalobacter that reflect organohalide form and availability. Methane was not detected before biostimulation but appeared afterwards, corresponding to an increase in methanogenic Archaea. Assembly of WMS reads produced scaffolds containing rdh genes from Dehalococcoides, Dehalobacter, Dehalogenimonas, Desulfocarbo, and Desulfobacula. Anaerobic and aerobic cometabolic organohalide degrading microbes that increase in abundance include methanogenic Archaea, methanotrophs, Dechloromonas, and Xanthobacter, some of which contain hydrolytic dehalogenase genes. Aerobic cometabolism may be supported by oxygen gradients existing in aquifer microenvironments or by microbes that produce O 2 via microbial dismutation. The NRAP model for successful ERD is consistent with the established pathway and identifies new taxa and processes that support this syntrophic process. This project explores the potential of metagenomic tools (MGT) as the next advancement in bioremediation.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Current and candidate additives for environmentally acceptable lubricants—A review

The world consumes approximately 40 million tons of lubricants annually, and nearly half of them end up in the environment because of leaks, discharges, and evaporation, causing significant environmental and economic impacts. The need for moving toward environmentally acceptable lubricants (EALs) is increasingly being recognized. Synthetic ester, polyalkylene glycol, vegetable oil, and water are among the base fluids approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for EALs. However, neat base fluids cannot fully meet the lubrication requirements without incorporating functional additives such as anti-wear, antioxidant, corrosion inhibitor, and viscosity modifiers. Both the performance and environmental compatibility of lubricant additives are critical. In this article, current and candidate EAL additives, both in liquid and solid forms, are reviewed, with a focus on their functionalities in friction and wear reduction, toxicity, and biodegradability. Finally, a perspective for future research on EAL additives is discussed.

42 ENGINEERING↗