Friction and wear properties of biomass-derived oils via thermochemical conversion processes

Tribological properties of biomass-derived oils (bio-oils) were experimentally investigated, and the properties were compared with that of standard mineral oils used for lubrication purposes. Bio-oils were obtained from fast pyrolysis (using poultry and pine), gasification (“gasitar” using pine) and hydrothermal liquefaction processes (using Scenedesmus and Nannocholoropsis). The friction and wear tests were conducted using a ball on the disk tribometer test. The results showed that the coefficient of friction (COF) were around 0.02 for both gasitar and Scenedesmus bio-oil; whereas, catalytic and non-catalytic pyrolysis oils had a COF around 0.1. The wear measurements showed that catalytic fast pyrolysis bio-oils had lower wear followed by non-catalytic bio-oil and “gasitar”. Nannocholoropsis bio-oil had the highest amount of wear, and algal bio-oils showed higher wear compared to other oils. The bio-oil chemical analysis indicated that catalytic and non-catalytic fast pyrolysis bio-oil had higher oxygen content, while algal bio-oil had higher nitrogenates. Gasitar had higher hydrocarbon content with lower oxygen and nitrogenates making it a favorable lubricating oil. •Bio-oils were produced from different biomass and thermochemical pathways.•Lower wear area for non-catalytic and catalytic compared to other bio-oils.•Gasitar resulted in a lower coefficient of friction (COF) and lower viscosity.