By Ifeakor, Chukwudi Ogonna
A study was undertaken to produce lubricant grease from plantain peel ash. The quality of grease produced was evaluated by determining its consistency at various specific gravities and volumes of plantain peel ash extract in a 5x5 factorial experiment in three replicates. The five specific gravities investigated were 1.245, 1.250, 1.255, 1.260 and 1.265 while the volumes of the extract investigated were 33%, 36%, 39%, 42% and 45%. The consistency of the grease at these combinations of specific gravities and volumes were analyzed using ANOVA at p ≤0.05. The plantain peels were burnt into ashes and the ashes were turned into solution with water and filtered. The filtrate was the bio-alkali used in the experiment. The grease was formulated by mixing the alkali with palm oil and lube oil. The mixture was heated and stirred continuously until saponification and dehydration took place, and grease formed. The consistency of the grease was tested according to the standard laboratory procedures.