In this study, Balanites aegyptiaca seed oil was extracted from the ground seed using the Soxhlet extraction method with n-hexane as the extraction solvent to produce two biolubricants; one via epoxidation to produce Balanites aegyptiaca Lubricant (BAB-E) and the other via transesterification with trimethylolpropane to produce Balanites aegyptiaca Lubricant (BAB-T). Both biolubricants were characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry. The physicochemical properties, lubricity and thermal properties of the produced biolubricants were determined. Results showed that the biolubricants had wavelengths of 3008.0 cm-1 associated with C-H stretching, 2922.8 cm-1 to -OH (acid), 1740.7 cm-1 to C=O, 1488.8 cm-1 to C=C stretching, 1364.2 cm-1 to NO2, 1237.6 cm-1 to C-O, 1159.2 cm-1 to C-C and 723.1 cm-1 to C-H bending. BAB-T had viscosities of 58.29 and 10.36 cSt at 40 and 100 OC respectively while those of BAB-E were 54.37 and 9.56 cSt. They had viscosity index of 168 and 161, and pour points of -9 and -8 respectively. These values were observed to be within acceptable range. BAB-T had coefficient of friction of 0.094 ± 0.014 while that of BAB-E was 0.080 ± 0.010 respectively. The biolubricants were observed to have thermal stability and showed properties similar to those of lubricants and show remarkable potentials to be used as alternatives to fossil-based lubricants.

Biodiesel is a domestically produced, clean-burning, renewable substitute for petroleum diesel. Using biodiesel as a vehicle fuel increases energy security, improves air quality and the environment, and provides safety benefits. . This study extracted, characterized and determined the physicochemical properties of biodiesel produced from Desert date (B. aegyptiaca) seed oil using Soxhlet extraction method with n-hexane as the extraction solvent. The oil obtained was characterized using FTIR and GC-MS analyses and its physicochemical properties determined. The oil obtained was subsequently transesterified using methanol and KOH catalyst. The obtained biodiesel was characterized and its physicochemical properties determined. The result showed that B. aegyptiaca seed oil had density of 0.9 g/cm3, viscosity of 6 cSt at 40 0C and viscosity of 2.5 cSt at 100 0C. The cloud and pour points of the oil was 21 and 9 0C respectively. The oil comprised of eleven fatty acids; predominantly linoleic acid (21.88 %), vaccenic acid (13.90 %) and palmitic acid (10.96 %). The biodiesel had density of 0.88 g/cm3, kinematic viscosity of 4.2 cSt, cloud and pour points of 16 0C and 7 0C respectively. The biodiesel also had free fatty acid (FFA) of 0.79 %, iodine value of 42 mgI2/100g and saponification value of 176. The biodiesel primarily consisted of 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid methyl ester (45.46 %), Hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (20.12 %), Butyl-9,12-Octadecadienoate (12.43 %) and Heptadecanoic acid-16-methyl ester (10.43 %). The properties obtained for the biodiesel were comparable to those of biodiesels reported in literature and thus, shows remarkable potentials to be used as substitute to fossil-based diesel fuel.