Mingjin FAN1, Lin MA1, Chaoyang ZHANG1, Desuo YANG1, Xiaoling WANG1, Feng ZHOU2, Weimin LIU2
1. Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry, College of Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Baoji University of Arts and Sciences, Baoji 721013, China
2. State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China.
Food grade lubricants are a kind of lubricants specially used in food machinery. The quality of the lubricants has significant effect on the food safety of human being. However, the concern about food safety in China is still focused on food additives, food microorganisms, and residue of pesticides and veterinary medicine. Few attentions have been pointed on the safe application of food grade lubricants. The developing of new and safe lubricants specially used in food machinery is just beginning, which is very important for our food safety. In the present paper, a new series of ionic liquid lubricants were synthesized from some materials of food and medicine. The physico-chemical, tribological, toxicological properties and biodegradability of the lubricants were systematically investigated. Taking fatty acid ionic liquid as an example, the results show that ammonium fatty acid ionic liquid are excellent lubricant for steel/steel, steel/copper and steel/aluminum contacts. They have higher hydrolysis stability, lower corrosion level and preparing cost than conventional IL lubricants. Moreover, the toxicity and biodegradability of short chain ionic liquids were also improved obviously. They can be regarded as a kind of green lubricants which may find potential application in food grade lubricants.
