carefully choose the best available to determine biodegrad- ability. One of the oldest biodegradability tests used for lubricants is from the Co-ordinating European Council (CEC) and is the CEC L-33-A-93 test, originally introduced in Europe in 1982 and revised in 1993. Its original purpose was to examine the effect of two-stoke fuel oil from outboard engines on Lake Constance, Austria. This test is frequently referred to in scientific literature and product sheets because of its simplicity. It is a 21-day test using a solvent to extract hydrocarbons from a sample of lubricant in an aqueous solution. Biodegradation is then measured by the loss of infra-red absorbance as a result of the increase in methylene chemicals (CH2). What this demonstrates is how much of the original material has been removed. This test is inexpensive and easy to perform, but tests for ‘primary’ biodegradation only. The results can give an exaggerated impression of the biodegradability of a lubricant and a product might perform extremely well, but when its ‘ultimate’ biodegradability is measured in a more rigorous test the results can be much less impressive.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has developed six ‘readily’ biodegradable tests (OECD Guidelines 301A to 301F). These tests all determine ultimate biodegradation over a period of 28 days by measuring either the loss of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) or the extent by which microbial respiration (oxygen used up, or carbon dioxide given off) is increased in comparison with blanks, which are identical except they do not contain any of the test material.
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(Brazilian distribution companies' syndicate) reported that in 2006 around one million cubic metres of lubes were sold in Brazil, of which LUBRAX held a 24% share. In July 2003, Petrobras began producing LUBRAX in Cochabamba, Bolivia and by 2005 the brand held the second largest market share, by focusing on quality and technology.
LUBRAX is a line of lube oils developed to meet specific Latin American and world market trends, in accordance with the latest specifications and approved by the top international agencies that determine performance levels and by major world manufacturers of equipment and vehicle assembly lines.
In July 2005 preceded by a strong advertising campaign, Petrobras began outsourcing production and finished lubes were sold in Colombia under the Petrobras-LUBRAX brand. Today, LUBRAX products are not only sold in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil and Colombia where they are locally manufactured, but also sold for export in Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay, through lube-centers, service stations and distribution companies. Petrobras lubricants are now the leading brand in Mercosur, South America's
premier trading bloc and has consid- erable sales in Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina and Uruguay.
industrial applications. These oils were specially developed for aeroderivative turbines, gas compressors and air compressors found on Petrobras’ platforms and vessels. This line is growing following new demands from Petrobras units and also from other industrial customers.
When the Petrobras LUBRAX brand is mentioned, most people immediately think of automotive lubes. But, the LUBRAX family has more than 100 products for industrial use, electric oils for transformers and others for a wide range of applications. Other lube-oil sub- sector have also developed with oils such as MARBRAX marine and FERBRAX railroad oils, as well as oils and greases, brake and radiator fluids and automatic transmission fluids and gear oils. The latest lube line that was launched was LUBRAX SYNTESIS, synthetic lubricants for marine, offshore and
In Brazil, essential in-service lubricant analysis and monitoring services for lube oils and greases is provided by Petrobras Distribuidora S.A. to Petrobras customers. These services normally offer LUBRAX clients a three-day turnaround for analytical results and predictive maintenance routines, with results posted on a secure internet site or faxed back to clients.
Since 1998 Petrobras is a technical sponsor of the AT&T Williams team in Formula 1.
Petrobras continues to enhance its LUBRAX brand portfolio and widen its lubricant services.
Link
www2.petrobras.com.br/ingles/index.asp LUBE MAGAZINE JUNE 2007 11
The OECD 301 test guidelines for determining ‘readily’ biodegradability were first published in 1981 and are probably the most widely used methods for determining the ultimate biodegradability of organic substances.
The fact that several testing regimes exist means that the same base fluid could give very different sets of results. For example, a substance might prove to be 60% biodegradable using a 28- day OECD test, or 90% biodegradable in only 21 days using a CEC test. Everything depends on the test method used and how the results are reported. The test could have measured oxygen consumed, carbon dioxide produced, original material left in the sample, or some other factor involved. The biodegradability lubricants and base fluids such as synthetic esters, vegetable oils, polyglycols and polyalphaolefins is obviously an area open to great misinterpretation.
Shell Lubricants are leading the way in establishing the highest standards of biodegradability with the most stringent test procedures available. It is obvious that the OECD testing procedure for ‘readily’ biodegradability provides the most reliable information, but there is a need for standardisation on how the tests are carried out and which particular measurements are used to extrapolate the results.
Link
www.shell.com
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