Comment and opinion

Citation

Margaroni, D. (1999), "Comment and opinion", Industrial Lubrication and Tribology, Vol. 51 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/ilt.1999.01851caa.001

Comment and opinion

Keywords: Environment, Lubricants

Discussions involving lubricants and the environment normally focus on issues relating to the biodegradability and the recycling of lubricants. However, the sciences of lubrication, friction and wear, which generally involve the reduction of energy costs and the prolongation of service life, all benefit the environment either directly or indirectly. An example of the less directly associated implications are the tribological investigations which have been associated with changes in fuel composition, brought about for environmental reasons. Problems associated with diesel fuel lubricity since reducing sulphur levels have been well publicised in recent years. Work is still continuing to investigate the problem areas, which are likely to intensify in 2005, when sulphur contents are to be reduced still further to 0.005 per cent. Fuel lubricity will continue to be a subject for tribological investigators as the injection pressures involved in both gasoline and diesel engines are likely to escalate still further as improvements in the combustion process will be sought in the interests of maximising fuel utilisation efficiencies. Rather closer to home in the UK will be problems arising out of the phasing out of leaded four-star petrol from 2000, since no satisfactory substitutes have yet been developed which give the same degree of protection as lead.

On the subject of biodegradable lubricants, technology now exists which enables the vast majority of hydrocarbon-based lubricants to be substituted with biodegradable versions, albeit at a price and possible performance deficit. However, from experience, users will rarely move to biodegradable versions for purely altruistic reasons unless encouraged to do so by favourable pricing policies, brought about by taxation benefits, or when being forced to do so by legislation. One recalls the initial reluctance of the motorist to switch to the more expensive unleaded petrol until a change in the relative taxation between the leaded and unleaded fuels prompted a major swing to the use of the cheaper unleaded fuel.

On the subject of legislation, one topic which is currently stimulating much conjecture among lubricant marketers is the forthcoming amended European Waste Oil Directive, which, it is understood, will place emphasis on harmonising and encouraging the approach to the requirement for regeneration of waste oils rather than disposal by other means. Whilst appreciating the motives behind such reasoning, the anticipated environmental advantages associated with regeneration are far from clear. In-depth life cycle analyses have already established that the environmental loadings associated with collection and regeneration can exceed those associated with the disposal of waste oil by simpler means, such as burning as fuel. Also, the increasing sophistication of crankcase lubricants, a result of environmental pressures to reduce emissions, improve fuel utilisation and extend drain intervals, is unlikely to allow the incorporation of regenerated oils unless the latter are controlled to such fine levels as to render the process of regeneration non-viable.

David Margaroni