A Review on Eco-Friendly Green Biolubricants from Renewable and Sustainable Plant Oil Sources

The seed oils of domesticated oilseed crops are major agricultural commodities used primarily for nutritional applications, but in recent years, there has been increasing use of these oils to produce biofuels and chemical feedstocks. This is being driven in part by the rapidly rising costs of petroleum, increased concern about the environmental impact of using fossil oil, and the need to develop renewable domestic sources of fuel and industrial raw materials. Biolubricants are gaining popularity and acceptance globally due to their sustainable, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly properties. Besides that, they are also derived from renewable plant-based oils. The chemical structure of the base oil of the biolubricant is the key determinant of its biodegradability. Many factors like humidity, pressure, metal type, air, and temperature change the chemical composition of base oils used in biolubricants. In other words, biodegradability hinges on how the chemical structure of the base oil changes during service. National and international labeling programs have been developed to minimize confusion in the marketplace, increase public awareness, and create thoughtfulness for environmentally preferable products. The labeling programs can aid in removing uncertainty in buying environmentally preferable products. This review highlights the recently published data and works of literature related to the development of green biolubricants, biolubricant advantages/disadvantages, chemical modification reactions, biolubricants worldwide eco-labeling, biodegradability, and toxicity testing methods.