Researchers at KNUST identifies Jatropha oil as high-performance engine lubricant

The researchers concluded that Jatropha curcas oil was a viable renewable base stock for producing automotive lubricants, demonstrating that plant-based oils could deliver the performance required for modern engines, while reducing dependence on petroleum-derived products.

Researchers at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi (KNUST) have found out that oil from the Jatropha curcas plant can be converted into a high-performance engine.

The researchers developed the bio-lubricant by chemically modifying Jatropha oil through esterification, transesterification, and epoxidation before blending it with performance-enhancing additives.