There is some confusion about what an “environmentally friendly” or “food grade” lubricant or grease really is because there are so many similar products on the market. it is important to note that meeting one criterion does not make the product EAL. The three main things the EPA defines for Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants (EALs) are that they are biodegradable, low toxic to marine and aquatic life and have minimal bioaccumulation potential. this is necessary that engineers, mechanics, and hydraulic fluid manufacturers understand these criteria and need to know these guidelines inside and out.
Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants, or EAL, are fluids that address the hydraulic industry’s concerns about lubricant use. These offer a reduced impact on the environment.
The growing emphasis on environmental regulations and the demand to save the world has spurred the use of EAL hydraulic fluids in multiple industries.
The manufacturers design these fluids to minimize the ecological impact associated with traditional hydraulic fluids, particularly in industries where work is closely associated with or near waterways. One such example is marine transportation. However, offshore drilling and hydropower generation are the other prime examples. Here, the risk of accidental spills and leaks poses a severe threat to aquatic or marine life.
To take this as a challenge and main purpose, many environmental regulations and agencies work worldwide, like the 2013 Vessel General Permit (VGP) in the USA. They have now mandated the use of EAL to mitigate the discharge of harmful substances into the water.
Engineering, mechanics, and sustainability professionals in production have a responsibility to themselves and the environment to learn about and use EALs as a way to make sure they are operating responsibly and following all the rules.
Here is a question: how to choose environmentally friendly hydraulic fluids? To be considered EAL, hydraulic fluids must meet three basic conditions: they must be recyclable, non-bioaccumulating, and non-toxic. If you add something to the main fluid, like detergents, anti-wear agents, or viscosity improvers, they must comply with these rules.
Biodegradability Steers Hydraulics Towards Sustainability
Biodegradability is a material’s ability to decompose into its parts through the use of microorganisms. If bacteria find a suitable raw material as a food source, they will probably break it down into water, carbon dioxide, and maybe some minerals. Ideally, these last minerals would not be dangerous either. To be clear, biodegradable materials may still contain chemicals that are hazardous to the earth.
Biodegradable properties have been classified into two classes: readily biodegradable and inherently biodegradable. It is based on how much of their product breaks down within the set timeframe of 28 days by 60 per cent.
If these don’t fall within the set period of criteria and fall between 20 and 59 per cent within 28 days, they will be classified as inherently biodegradable.
A popular way to make EAL fluids less harmful to the environment is to use pure base oils. Bio-oils made from canola or soy seed oils are very popular because they are safe, don’t cost much, and have a natural ability to break down. These substances are great for EAL preparation because they look good and aren’t harmful. It is worth noting that synthetic fluids, including those with a paraffin base, are not very toxic. They show low toxicity and can be suitable for certain EAL applications.
Most industrial applications tend to use readily biodegradable products, but the classification of biodegradable is not well explained.
Some fluids or products that are biodegradable are simply marked as “biodegradable” without details or explanations. However, users can ask manufacturers or distribution channels for details about the classification based on biodegradability. Biofood hydraulic fluids are mostly readily biodegradable.
EALs Tackle Bioaccumulation in Hydraulics
The word “bioaccumulation” and its concept may be unfamiliar to fluid power makers. It means the slow buildup of chemicals within the tissues of living organisms. Heavy metals like zinc and cadmium either don’t break down or their process is very slow. When they enter water sources, they become the food for the smaller fish, which are the source of food for larger fish, like sardines, herring, and tuna, when plankton eats them, those fish become the food source for humans. These fish then become a threat to other fish that eat them and maybe even to people.
Renewable or biodegradable fluids are formulate with no zinc or other heavy metals, so there are no bioaccumulation worries at all. These are also free of VOCs, so they are safe for workers and the environment in general.
Mechanics and engineers who work on EAL selection need to know a lot about bioaccumulation. To encourage the hydraulics business to be more environmentally friendly, we can use fluids and additives that are recyclable, low-toxic, and non-bioaccumulative. This can mitigate long-term environmental harm and promote sustainable practices.
Even though most companies that make lubricants try to keep bioaccumulative additives out of EAL fluids, the fluids still have to meet certain compositional standards in order to be certified. Before an EAL hydraulic press fluid can be considered, it must have at least 90% base oil that can be broken down by living things. Chemicals that don’t build up in living things are also fine (up to 5% by weight). The rest has to naturally break down.
A Drop In The Green Bucket With Low Toxicity Level
The US Fish and Wildlife Service and the EPA study a chemical’s toxicity by finding the quantity at which it becomes harmful to plants and animals. For this reason, the LC50 for fish and the EC50 for algae are two important metrics.
While LC50 finds a concentration that is lethal to 50% of fish within 96 hours of exposure, EC50 finds the concentration of a substance that reduces algae growth by half in 72 hours. Bio-food-grade hydraulic fluids are among the safest options for the environment because they are much safer than the acute toxicity levels set by these agencies (LC50/EC50 > 1000 ppm).
In addition to their low toxicity, bio-food-grade fluid for mechanics and hydraulics offer oxidation performance comparable to full synthetics and are also readily biodegradable. This combination of features makes them ideal for use in environmentally sensitive applications. They are not only safe for food processing equipment but also for use near waterways, in marine environments, and in agricultural settings where crops are grow for human consumption.
On top of being biodegradable and not very harmful, bio-food-grade hydraulic fluids work just as well against oxidation as full synthetics. Because of these features, they work great for sensitive applications where people care about the environment. They are not only safe for food processing machines or equipment, but they are also suitable for use near waterways, in marine aquatic environments, and in agricultural settings where crops are growing for human consumption.