Nature-inspired yield optimization of jojoba oil-based biolubricant production: A sustainable alternative to petroleum lubricants

In this study, jojoba oil was utilized as a sustainable feedstock for the production of biolubricants through transesterification & epoxidation procedures, using HCl and H₂SO₄ as catalysts. The influence of critical process parameters—including molar ratio, temperature, and catalyst concentration—on the biolubricant yield was systematically examined. ANOVA analysis revealed non-linear variations in yield, highlighting significant interactive effects between process variables. Three nature-inspired optimization algorithms—Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), Differential Evolution (DE), and Ant Colony Optimization (ACO)—were used to determine the optimal process conditions for maximizing biodiesel yield using HCl and H₂SO₄ as catalyst systems. DE provided the best balance between accuracy and computational efficiency, while PSO was also efficient but slightly less accurate. The optimized conditions identified were a molar ratio of 0.5 (0.5 molar equivalent of acetic acid to 1 molar equivalent of hydrogen peroxide), reaction temperature 50 °C, and with a catalyst concentration of 1.2 ml wt%. Experimental validation of these conditions showed excellent agreement with the predicted yields, with deviations of only 0.15 % for HCl and 0.48 % for H₂SO₄, confirming the reliability and practical applicability of the optimization models. The study demonstrates that accurate control and optimization of reaction conditions substantially improve both yield and process efficiency. Moreover, the use of a renewable, non-edible oil and environmentally benign processing methods underlines the potential of biolubricants as a viable alternative to conventional petroleum-based lubricants. These findings contribute to the advancement of cleaner and more sustainable industrial lubrication technologies.