Formulation of the Trae Product by Viscosity Modification with Dilution of Rae Material Utilizing Base Lubricating Oil

Abstract

This study focuses on the formulation of Treated Residual Aromatic Extract (TRAE) products by modifying the viscosity of Residual Aromatic Extract (RAE) through dilution using base lubricating oil (LBO). The objective is to optimize rheological properties while ensuring environmental compliance regarding Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds (PCA) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs). The blending process was carried out at 100 °C for 60 minutes with RAE:LBO ratios of 85:15, 70:30, and 60:40. The experimental results revealed that dilution effectively reduced the kinematic viscosity of RAE from 18,487 mm²/s to 799.0 mm²/s at 40 °C from 115.07 mm²/s to 31.71 mm²/s at 100 °C. The PCA content decreased from 14.1 wt% to below 3 wt%, and the total PAH and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) concentrations were within the limits specified by EU Directive 2005/69/EC and REACH Annex XVII (<10 mg/kg and <1 mg/kg, respectively). The optimal formulation at a 70:30 RAE:LBO ratio achieved viscosity values comparable to commercial TRAE products (H&R Vivatec 700 and 800) with superior environmental compatibility. These findings confirm that viscosity modification via dilution with environmentally friendly base oil offers an effective and sustainable pathway for producing low-PAH TRAE products.