Simple Method for the Conversion of Light Cracked Naphtha into Efficient Lubricity Improvers for Ultra-Low Sulfur...

Light cracked naphtha (LCN) is one of the olefin streams obtained from oil refinery in the petrochemical fluidized catalytic cracking unit. In this communication, we report a new method for the conversion of LCN into lubricity improvers for ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) through a feasible two-step synthetic procedure. In the first step, olefins of LCN were subjected to the hydroboration reaction using BH₃ to get the hydroxy LCN derivative which was then subjected to the esterification reaction with different organic acids to get the final LCN esters (6a-j). The lubricating property of the LCN esters was studied at two blending concentrations (300 and 150 ppm, wt/vol) with ULSD. Interestingly, ester (6a) derived from stearic acid showed the tiniest wear scar diameter in both dosage levels. The mechanism of lubricity action of LCN esters on metallic surfaces was studied by analyzing the worn surfaces using scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy techniques. The studies reveal that the lubricity additives derived from cracked naphtha through a simple chemical reaction strategy are promising precursors in enhancing the lubricity of ULSD.