Sunday A. Osemeahon1, Saminu Mohammed Abdulmalik2*, Daniel Wasinda Malgwi1 and Gambo M. Saljaba3.
1Department of Chemistry, Modibbo Adama University, Yola, Nigeria.
2Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Adamawa State University, Mubi, Nigeria
3College of Education, Waka, Biu, Borno State, Nigeria
*Corresponding author’s Email: abulmalik546@adsu.edu.ng, doi.org/10.55639/607.020100149
ABSTRACT
The formulation of a lubricant from polyethylene waste is an outstanding development in conversion of waste to wealth and control of the environmental pollution, this is important in science as non-biodegradable materials on pyrolysis produced pyro-wax. This is used as thickener in the production of lubricant grease by transformation of the properties of polyethylene waste to a useful raw-material in a thermal process. The work aimed to identify the effect of the waste plastic pyro-wax as a thickener on the properties of lubricant grease. These was made by varying amount of the pyro-wax from 15 to 30% at 3% interval and the pyro-wax grease properties results for consistency from 38.0 – 15.6 mm, dropping point from 113 to 124 oC, oil separation from 0.33 to 0.06%, water wash-off from 1.67 to 0.26%, and load carrying capacity from 200 to 1200N respectively were obtained. The result of the analysis shows increases in concentration of the thickener decease in the oil separation and water wash-off but increase consistency, dropping point and load carrying capacity. This is significant in that the application principles of the grease dependent on the outcome from the adherence of the product on the surface which result from the structural density of the pyro-wax. This provides knowledge on how plastic waste can be up-cycled for a useful lubricant product and the outcomes contribute to effective environmental management and pollution control.
KEYWORDS
Waste,
Thickener, –
Polyethylene,
Pyrolysis,
Up-cycle.