VOSOLUB. New formulations of sunflower-based biolubricants with high oleic acid content. Newsletter N 2

Transcription

1 VOSOLUB New formulations of sunflower-based biolubricants with high oleic acid content Newsletter N 2 1. Newsletter introduction 2. Project partners interview (Anne PAULHE-MASSOL from ARTERRIS and Jean-Claude PIERRON from PROVENCE HUILES) 3. VOSOLUB project overview 4. Dissemination and events 5. Demonstration tests: focus on curve rail grease

2 1. Newsletter introduction Welcome to the second issue of the VOSOLUB project newsletter! This issue highlights work carried out on the project, news and upcoming events, as well as interviews with ARTERRIS and PROVENCE HUILES partners about the project. The publication of this newsletter occurs in a European context for bioeconomy that has never been more constructive and encouraging. First, a bioeconomy observatory has been launched by the European Commission (IP/13/113) to map progress and measure the impact of the development of the European Union s bioeconomy. The observatory will notably gather data to follow the evolution of markets, to map EU, national and regional bioeconomy policies, research and innovation capacities, and the scale of related public and private investments. Second, the Commission is considering a new public-private partnership (PPP) on bio-based industries to accelerate the development of the sector. This PPP, which is very likely to be set up by the EC, will help support industrial research and innovation to overcome the innovation valley of death, the path from research to the marketplace. This supportive environment should help to accelerate innovation and market uptake of biobased products including biobased lubricants. 2. Project partners interview (Anne PAULHE-MASSOL and Jean- Claude PIERRON) Anne PAULHE-MASSOL, Head of R&D and Innovation at ARTERRIS The VOSOLUB project is a demonstration project that aims at testing, under real operating conditions, new formulations of sunflower-based biolubricants with high oleic acid content. Sunflower seeds are produced by arterris. Q1. Could you please tell us a bit about ARTERRIS interest in the project? ARTERRIS is a major agricultural cooperative in South of France. The cooperative brings together cooperators and 1300 employees. Its activities cover several areas: field crops, vines, arboriculture, market gardening, seed production, animal nutrition and production, agricultural distribution

3 2. Project partners interview (Anne PAULHE-MASSOL and Jean- Claude PIERRON) (continued) distribution and agro-food processing. ARTERRIS is involved in the VOSOLUB project to investigate other applications and markets for high oleic acid sunflower seeds. Q2. What is ARTERRIS exact role in VOSOLUB? In VOSOLUB, ARTERRIS provides the high oleic acid sunflower seeds that are used to produce the base oils of the project. Q3. Could you explain the main characteristics of the high oleic sunflower seeds? The high oleic acid sunflower seeds have an oleic fatty acid content which is more than 90%.The varieties of sunflower seeds are provided by our seed company partner PIONEER and come from special breeding without genetic modification. Q4. What is the current surface area cultivated with high oleic sunflower in France? How do you see the demand evolving for this crop in the coming years? In France, ha are sown with sunflower. Oleic sunflower represents 50% to 60% of this area. High oleic sunflower (oleic content>90%) is only produced by ARTERRIS. This production was started two years ago with a few hundred hectares. In 2013, ha are grown with high oleic sunflower and ARTERRIS plans to increase this production every year to meet the increasing demand for both food and non-food applications. Q5. Are there any particular constraints for cultivating high oleic sunflower? Would it be feasible to cultivate high oleic sunflower or other high oleic crop in other parts of Europe? First, it should be noted that ARTERRIS is located in an area with excellent climatic conditions to obtain a high content of oleic fatty acid. There is probably no other region in Europe as perfectly suited for this crop. The constraints involved in cultivating high oleic sunflower are mainly to be found in the supply chain management. Along the whole production chain (seedling, harvest, transport, storage...), the cooperative has to ensure that high oleic seeds do not mix with other varieties of sunflower seeds (to avoid quality degradation). In practice, this calls for the setting up of procedures on the one hand and for quality control by rapid analyses in the whole chain on the other hand. Contact: Marie PAULHE-MASSOL, apaulhe-massol@arterris.fr

4 2. Project partners interview (Anne PAULHE-MASSOL and Jean- Claude PIERRON) (continued) Jean-Claude PIERRON, Technical expert at PROVENCE HUILES The high oleic sunflower oil used in VOSOLUB project to formulate the biolubricants is produced by PROVENCE HUILES in Vitrolles (France). Q1. Jean-Claude, could you tell us a bit about PROVENCE HUILES interest in the project? PROVENCE HUILES, in combination with GHM (Grandes Huileries Médiaco), specialize in the production of vegetable oils intended for human consumption The company processes medium sized batches of oils, specifically grape seed oil. High oleic sunflower oil with high content of oleic acid is a logical extension of this; the quantities required for biolubricants are of the same order. Q2. What is PROVENCE HUILES exact role in VOSOLUB? GHM (Grandes Huileries Médiaco) is responsible for crushing high oleic sunflower seeds produced by ARTERRIS. PROVENCE HUILES receives the oil and refines it. Q5. What is the added value of PROVENCE HUILES in the supply chain of high oleic sunflower oil for biolubricant manufacturers? PROVENCE HUILES is of an appropriate size, suitable for the potential tonnage of biolubricant production. It also has adequate capacity to produce specific oil batches with the required high oleic acid content. Contacts: Jean-Claude PIERRON, pierron.jc@free.fr

5 3. VOSOLUB project overview VOSOLUB Partners Concept and objectives of VOSOLUB Project VOSOLUB at one glance One of the most important barriers to the adoption of biolubricants onto the market is their higher price compared to mineral oil based lubricants. In order to improve the market penetration of biolubricants, it is therefore necessary to decrease their purchase cost. The formulations tested in VOSOLUB project use new base oils (developed in the framework of IBIOLAB project, see interview of Carine Alfos) that are obtained from: A new variety of oil seeds: very high oleic sunflower seeds give an oil with a very good resistance to oxidation and good flow properties. A new refining process: a soft refining process is used instead of complete and classical refining (reducing the processing costs due to the tailoring of refining to oils and elimination of useless steps). The new variety of oil seeds in combination with the soft refining process allow us to obtain base oils with high stability, with a low impact on the environment and at a lower cost compared to polyolesters VOSOLUB contribution By demonstrating under real conditions the technical and environmental performance of lubricants based on very high oleic sunflower oil and by implementing a European industrial network of supply of high oleic sunflower base oil, the VOSOLUB project will offer an important alternative feedstock for the deployment of the biolubricant market in Europe and the development of a new generation of biolubricants as effective and cheap as the existing mineral lubricants. In addition, the soft refining process enables the reduction of the environmental impact associated with the production of the base oil.

6 4. Dissemination and events WEBSITE Project meetings Relevant events The VOSOLUB website is available since February It provides general information on the project. All content will be reviewed and updated on a regular basis. ( Will be avail PROJECT DOCUMENTS Project documents are available on VOSOLUB website (brochure, poster, presentations ). Eighteen-month meeting in Barcelona The eighteen-month VOSOLUB meeting took place in Barcelona (Spain) on 11 April The work performed to date was reviewed as well as the progress of the deliverables. The main topic discussed was the preparation of the demonstration tests with the presentation of the work done during the last months and the results of the analytical tests. The global approach and questionnaires for LCA was also presented. Management issues, financial state of the project as well as dissemination activities were also discussed. VOSOLUB in the press Back in July 2012, the VOSOLUB project was presented in a special report dedicated to biolubricants entitled Biolubricants: the sector gradually organises itself. This report was published in the French magazine FORMULE VERTE (a magazine dedicated to renewable raw materials and ingredients) and several project partners were interviewed (ITERG, MOTUL, VALBIOM). The full special report can be accessed from the VOSOLUB website in the news press area. The VOSOLUB partners will shortly participate in the following events: Foire agricole de Libramont (Libramont, Belgium) The Libramont agricultural, forestry and agri-food fair is a huge open-air exhibition that welcomes more than visitors, along with exhibitors and brands, on a site covering m² every year. From 26 to 29 of July, ValBiom will be present at the fair with a stand entirely dedicated to biobased products including biolubricants. Brochures of the VOSOLUB project will be distributed.

7 5. Demonstration tests Focus on curve rail grease In VOSOLUB project, three users will demonstrate the use of bio lubricants for a specific application, and their performances will be compared with mineral lubricants. In this issue, we focus on the curved rail grease application. INTRODUCTION RS CLARE has a lot of experience in supplying Curved Rail Grease into the UK rail market. Large customers include Network Rail and London Underground Ltd. For the VOSOLUB project, RS CLARE is working with the end-user Sheffield Stagecoach Supertram and is supplying an eco-label compliant grease into a curved rail application whilst running back-toback comparisons with a mineral oil based grease. There is no performance specification for an eco-label grease the eco-label merely states that greases shall be fit for purpose. RS CLARE has deemed that the eco-label grease to be trialled at Sheffield Supertram should have similar performance properties to commercially available curved rail greases that are being supplied into the Rail Industry. Information If you would like information, please contact Paul Wilson (Technical Manager) or Julie Bullock (Product Development Chemist): PWilson@rsclare.co. uk JBullock@rsclare.co. uk PERFORMANCE EVALUATION RS CLARE will carry out the physical performance tests documented above on the eco-label grease and on a mineral oil based grease, XP788, which is still being sold into the UK rail industry. A comparison report will be issued for the VOSOLUB project. BFB OIL RESEARCH will carry out the biodegradability and aquatic toxicity testing. INSTALLATION OF THE DEMONSTRATION SITES Two greases will be supplied to Stagecoach Supertram for back-to-back trial purposes. One will be mineral oil based and the other will be the bio-based grease produced for the VOSOLUB project. The greases will be used to reduce wear between the wheel flange and side rail, avoiding costly rail replacement in curved sections. Two trial sites will be chosen, with similar radius curves and traffic. Application of grease to the curved section will be via a trackside Grease Distribution Unit (GDU) supplied by Portec Ltd. The PW Hydraulic GDU is activated via a plunger when a train or tram passes. Output can be adjusted to ensure adequate grease carry around the curve. The lubricator holds 3 x 12.5kg of grease this will last approximately 3 months before top-up is required. The trial will last around 12 months to ensure both winter and summer conditions are experienced. RS Clare staff will visit the trial site every 1 2 months to monitor performance and take measurements / samples as required. Width of the side rail will be measured at each site when the trial is set up. Sheffield Supertram will use their monitoring technology throughout the trial period to measure rate of wear and wear patterns for both the bio and mineral oil based greases.