Journal of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Journal of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering

Valorization of Underutilized Seed Oils as Bio-Based Feedstocks for Oilfield Chemical Development

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
1 Industrial Unit, Department of Chemistry, University of Ibadan
2 Department of Chemistry University of Ibadan Nigeria
Abstract
The growing dependence of the oil and gas industry on petroleum-derived chemicals has intensified the search for renewable and environmentally sustainable feedstocks. This study investigated the valorization potential of oils extracted from Mangifera indica, Citrus sinensis, Jatropha curcas, Carica papaya, and Citrullus lanatus seeds as bio-based feedstocks for oilfield chemical development. The extracted oils were characterized using standard physicochemical analyses, while their fatty-acid compositions were determined by gas chromatography–flame ionization detection (GC–FID). Oil yields ranged from 12.01% for M. indica to 58.68% for C. lanatus, with J. curcas (56.50%) and C. lanatus producing yields comparable to the soybean oil reference. The oils exhibited favourable iodine and saponification values, indicating the presence of chemically reactive lipid components suitable for oleochemical conversion. GC–FID analysis showed that C. lanatus (86.00%), C. papaya (78.46%), and C. sinensis (73.71%) possessed high proportions of unsaturated fatty acids, predominantly oleic and linoleic acids, while M. indica contained the highest phenolic content (3072.73 mg/kg). These compositional characteristics provide reactive molecular platforms for functionalization through epoxidation, esterification, amidation, polymerization, and related reactions to produce bio-based lubricants, drilling-fluid additives, emulsifiers, demulsifiers, corrosion inhibitors, and wax-control agents. The findings demonstrate that these underutilized seed oils are promising renewable oleochemical feedstocks whose valorization could reduce dependence on petroleum-derived chemicals, promote agricultural resource utilization, and support the development of sustainable oilfield chemical technologies.
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Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 25 October 2026

Supplementary File

  • Receive Date 03 March 2024
  • Revise Date 20 October 2026
  • Accept Date 12 October 2026