Abstract The production of biolubricants has gained growing interest due to their biodegradability and low toxicity, motivating the search for low-cost raw materials such as animal fats. This study investigated the synthesis of biolubricants from crude poultry oil, a residue of the poultry-processing industry. The raw material was characterized and conditioned through acid esterification and alkaline transesterification to obtain biodiesel with a low acid number (1 mg KOH/g) and high methyl ester content. This biodiesel was then reacted with polyols via reverse transesterification to produce biolubricants. A Central Composite Design was employed to evaluate two polyols—trimethylolpropane (TMP) and neopentylglycol (NPG)—using biodiesel-to-polyol molar ratio (MR) and sodium methoxide concentration as variables, while reaction time, temperature, pressure, and agitation remained constant. After centrifugation, only the liquid fraction was analyzed, with biolubricant recoveries ranging from 20% to 60%. Kinematic viscosity was measured according to ASTM D445, and the five samples with the highest viscosities from each design were further examined through viscosity index determination and thermogravimetric analysis. Optimal conditions for producing an International Organization for Standardization Viscosity Grade (ISO VG) 32-grade biolubricant were obtained at a 4:1 biodiesel-to-TMP MR with 1% w/w of catalyst. Only TMP-based formulations met ISO VG 32 and 46 viscosity classifications, whereas NPG-based samples exhibited insufficient viscosity. These results demonstrate the feasibility of converting poultry waste oil—an abundant, low-value byproduct—into high-performance biolubricants through reverse transesterification. In contrast to studies focused on vegetable oils such as palm or jatropha, this work validates animal fat-derived biodiesel as a viable precursor for ISO-grade lubricants, offering a cost-effective and sustainable alternative to edible oils.
Avellaneda-Vargas et al. (Thu,) studied this question.