SUSTAINABILITY
Life cycle assessment of polyol esters: A comparative analysis of a bio-based vs. fossil- based product
Pauline Ruiz & Matthias Stratmann, nova-Institut GmbH, and Verena Koch & Denise Haas, Peter Greven GmbH & Co. KG
Introduction
Bio-lubricants have become a substantial part of the lubricants industry as they unite environmental compatibility, sustainability and performance. They are made from bio-based feedstocks which can substitute fossil resources in conventional lubricants. This “defossilisation” is important to eliminate additional influx of fossil carbon into our carbon cycles and hence finally into the atmosphere. The main narrative is that carbon which is not extracted from the ground, can also not be released into the atmosphere where it finally causes climate change. Renewable carbon feedstocks originate from atmo-, bio- and technosphere and hence do not bring additional fossil carbon into the carbon cycle above the ground.1 is an inherent advantage to fossil-based products.
This
However, products made from renewable carbon sources also require processing. Agricultural feedstocks need land to grow and processes need energy and some chemical and/or mechanical processing. When produced at scale, renewable carbon products also require industrial value chains. So, being bio-based/renewable is a necessary, but not a sufficient condition. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) must show that the potential environmental impacts of a bio-based product are less than impacts from a conventional one.
1
nova-Institute, a science-based consultant in defossilisation and renewable carbon, was commissioned to conduct a comparative LCA for LIGALUB 19 TMP and DITA. LIGALUB 19 TMP is a polyol ester with a high biogenic carbon share based on palm kernel fatty acid and trimethylolpropane (TMP) produced by Peter Greven, a leading producer of oleochemical additives based on renewable feedstocks. Diisotridecyladipate (DITA) is a conventional lubricant ester, whose reactants isotridecanol and adipic acid are both derived from petrochemical feedstocks. The LCA was peer-reviewed by an external review panel consisting of three independent experts including LCA experts as well as lubricant industry experts.
Scope of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) LCA is an internationally standardised method laid out in ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006. It analyses the different stages of a product’s life, providing comprehensive insights on the environmental impact. The goals of this LCA were to quantitatively assess the potential environmental impacts of the polyol ester LIGALUB 19 TMP, to identify the most impacting processes for further process development and to provide a comparison against the conventional petrochemical lubricant ester diisotridecyladipate (DITA).
vom Berg, C. and Carus, M. et al. 2023: Renewable Carbon as a Guiding Principle for Sustainable Carbon Cycles. Editor: Renewable Carbon Initiative (ed.), Hürth 2023; (vom Berg & Carus et al. 2023)
Continued on page 24 LUBE MAGAZINE NO.185 FEBRUARY 2025 23
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