Valorisation non alimentaire des huiles de friture usagées en tant que lubrifiants biodégradables

Abstract

The market of used frying oils (UFO’s) collection in Europe is estimated to about 350,000 tons a year. Since the dioxin crisis in 1999, the main recycling ways of this raw material, considered as a waste, concern the oleochemical applications namely the production of biodiesel and fatty acids. In this context, the European Craft Valuil project led to a new application of UFO’s as environmentally friendly biodegradable lubricants in applications such as demoulding agents, industrial gear boxes oils and hydraulic fluids. The synthesis of biolubricant bases is carried out according to an integrated catalytic transesterification process: methanolysis of UFO’s followed by a transesterification in presence of trimethylolpropan. The lubricant performances synthesised at laboratory and pilot scales as well as a first process cost assessment have strongly encouraged the industrial partners to go on this project towards an industrial development which is in progress.

Keywords

• used frying oils
• traceability
• biolubricants
• performances