Production and Testing of Biodegradable Grease from Black-Date (Canarium schweinfurthii) Oil

This work focuses on the production and testing of biodegradable grease from Black-date oil. The production was carried out by extracting the oil from black-date seed with solvent extraction using n-hexane; hydrolyzing the oil extract as a mixture of the base oil, thickener (calcium hydroxide), stearic acid and additives to form solid grease. Tests were carried out to determine the quality of the biodegradable grease produced. Work ability, dropping point and biodegradability were also conducted. Oando and Texaco conventional greases were used as control and standards. The production condition, measurement standards and results were: water temperature for removing black-date flesh from the seed (600C -700C); and temperature for the productions of grease were 1000C, 1700C and 2100C. The BOD test result were within the acceptable range of 4.0 – 8.0 and the cone penetration of grease (consistency) result was of the ASTM D217 – IP50 standard with the highest produced grease dropping point close to that of Oando grease. This work therefore has added to the list of feedstocks for bio-based lubricants which can be of use both in terrestrial and aquatic environments for industrial and other applications.