ETHIOPIAN TECHNICAL UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF MECHANICAL TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF AUTOMOTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Thesis on
Tribological Investigation of Blended Jatropha and Soybean Oil for
The Production of Grease
A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty Mechanical Technology Department of
Automotive technology Ethiopian Technical University Addis Ababa in partial
fulfillment of the Degree of Masters of Science in Automotive Technology
BY
ELIAS CHERNET BELAYNEH
MTR 523/13

Advisor: - Dr. Pedro (professor)

Co-Advisor: -…………………
Addis Ababa Ethiopia
Dec 2021
 The flow of Ideas in the Problem Statement

Tribological Investigation of Blended Jatropha and Soybean Oil for The

Production of Grease

The Ethiopian government, all mineral lubricants are imported from foreign currency for
the different countries. this contributing factor to the current economic crisis. And
previously, the majority of lubricating greases were made from petroleum (mineral) oil
and synthetic oil but these types of lubricating greases are increasing global
environmental pollution and it is non-renewable substances.

The total imported lubricants in Ethiopia are around 48 million liters per year. all
mineral lubricants are imported from foreign currency for the different countries so it is
contributed to foreign currency deficiency.

The majority of lubricating greases were made from petroleum (mineral) oil and
synthetic oil but these types of lubricating greases are increasing global environmental
pollution and it is non-renewable substances. Also, most of the greases that are produced
from those base oil increases the toxicity of the lubricant. Furthermore, the improper
disposal of lubricants creates environmental problems, similar to problems faced by
other petroleum-derived products such as fuels.

Producing bio-lubricants is derived from vegetable oil materials like jatropha

and soybean oils from easily available vegetables in Ethiopia. The main
advantages of vegetable oil-based lubricants are their high biodegradability
and low aquatic toxicity and their ability to contribute to the goal of energy
independence and sustainability of renewable resources.

Research is still being conducted to develop a new methodology for the

production of greases from jatropha and soybean oil vegetable-based materials
that would be more economical and greener. To produce at a reasonable cost,
with better shelf life, less pollutant, increase in the utilization of alternative lubricants,
and easily accessible environmentally friendly raw material in the country. Besides
this, it will reduce the cost that the Ethiopian government invests in mineral lubricant
from a foreign country.
 Statement of The Problem
Especially in our country Ethiopian government, all mineral lubricants are imported from foreign
currency for the different countries. this contributing factor to the current economic crisis.
Previously, the majority of lubricating greases were made from petroleum (mineral) oil and
synthetic oil but these types of lubricating greases are increasing global environmental pollution
and it is non-renewable substances. Also, most of the greases that are produced from those base
oil increases the toxicity of the lubricant. Furthermore, the improper disposal of lubricants
creates environmental problems, similar to problems faced by other petroleum-derived products
such as fuels. A new class of environmentally acceptable and sustainable bio greases based on
plant oils is accessible for environmental concerns as well as the depleting supply of petroleum.
Despite the fact that plant oils have great lubricating characteristics, there are some reservations
about using them as bio-grease base oil.
Bio lubricants are derived from vegetable oil materials like jatropha and soybean oils, it is an
easily available vegetable in Ethiopia. The main advantages of vegetable oil-based lubricants are
their high biodegradability and low aquatic toxicity and their ability to contribute to the goal of
energy independence and sustainability of renewable resources. jatropha is higher oxidation
stability and soybean is the very highest viscosity fixture Blending the two oils provides a
comprehensive fatty acid composition that consists of a compact as well as long fiber structure
resulting in an increased interaction of the base oil matrix.
Research is still being conducted to develop a new methodology for the production of greases
from jatropha and soybean oil vegetable-based materials that would be more economical and
greener. To produce at a reasonable cost, with better shelf life, less pollutant, increase in the utilization
of alternative lubricants, and easily accessible environmentally friendly raw material in the country.
Besides this, it will reduce the cost that the Ethiopian government invests in mineral lubricant from a
foreign country.
References
Evidence from the literature and from the practical experience.
✓ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15826046/
✓ https://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/19524/
✓ Erhan, S. Z.; Adhvaryu, A. Vegetable Oil-Based Stocks. In Biobased Industrial Fluids and
Lubricants; Erhan, S. Z., Perez, J. M., Eds.; AOCS Press: Champaign, IL, 2002; pp 1-19.
✓ https://www.researchgate.net/figure/List-of-Different-Soybean-Genotypes-used-for-this-
Experiment_tbl1_337211473
✓ B. Hailemariam, “No Title.” . "Lubricant supply feels the the heat of forex crunch " in Fortune vol. 20,
ed. Addis Ababa 2019.