SUSTAINABILITY
Everything you ever wanted to know about the biodegradability of lubricants and greases
Vincent Bouillon, Eurofins BFB Oil Research S.A; Les Isnes (Gembloux); Belgium
We all agree that sustainability is relevant to the lubricants industry. Sustainability efforts are well underway and lubricants are part of the solution. A lubricant’s potential to reduce friction and wear, prevent overheating, reduce energy consumption and increase the lifetime of equipment is of great benefit to the industries which use lubricants, as well as to the lubricant industry itself.
In spite of that, we can’t forget that lubricants may be harmful and dangerous and may cause long-term adverse effects on biota.
A small drop of lubricant can contaminate a large quantity of groundwater and render it undrinkable. Despite the efforts being made to recover, regenerate and re-refine lubricants, it is recognised that more than five million tons of lubricants are not collected and are disposed of in the environment.
This makes biodegradability one of the most important intrinsic properties of substances when determining their potential environmental hazard.
Why you need to evaluate biodegradability The biodegradation of organic chemicals influences exposure and, hence, is a key parameter for estimating the risk of long-term adverse effects on the environment. This is why data on biodegradation is requested in many regulations, directives, acts, labels (VIDA, VGP, EEL, DSD, DPD, CLP, REACH, GHS, WGK, SDS and LCA).1
General testing strategy for biodegradability An adopted approach allows chemical biodegradability testing to be organised into a general testing strategy that follows three steps: •
First, the aerobic biodegradability is assessed in a screen ing test for ready biodegradability.
•
If the result of the ready biodegradability test is negative, an examination using a simulation test may be carry out to obtain data describing the biodegradation rate in the environment. Alternatively, or in addition, a screening test for inherent biodegradability may be conducted in order to generate data describing the potential biodegradability under optimised aerobic conditions, such as in sewage treatment plants.
Biodegradable substances may be removed from sewers, sewage treatment plants, or the environment directly, preventing them from reaching groundwater.
1(
https://www.lube-media.com/oil-industry-abbreviations/), Ed Continued on page 22 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.176 AUGUST 2023 21 •
Finally, the potential biodegradability under anoxic conditions may be examined in a screening test for anaerobic biodegradability.
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