Exploring molecular catalysis in the enzymatic synthesis of biolubricants: A comprehensive review and bibliometric assessment

Abstract

Biolubricants are produced from renewable biological raw materials using sustainable methods, such as enzymatic catalysis and the esterification of vegetable oils and animal fats, representing a promising alternative. Enzymatic biocatalysts, in particular, have high specificity in synthesizing new products, making them a fundamental tool in producing biolubricants. This study aims to conduct a detailed bibliometric analysis to evaluate the primary studies on the enzymatic synthesis of biolubricants. It also identifies prominent countries, authors, journals, and research areas contributing to the topic. Describe the characteristics, advantages, and challenges associated with biolubricants, including the types of enzymes, substrates, and raw materials used, the mechanisms of enzymatic synthesis, and the techniques used for production, optimization, and characterization. The keywords "biofuel", "biolubricant" and "enzyme" were used for the database. The search was carried out in Scopus, covering the period from 2014 to June 2024. The analysis returned 358 articles and revealed significant international collaboration, especially between Brazil, India, and China. Brazil leads the field, contributing 19.27 % of the publications. Brazilian institutions have shown remarkable specialization in producing lubricants, using the country's rich biodiversity and biomass resources to promote research and innovation. Thus, this study presents a complete contextualization of the production of biolubricants, with an overview of world production in the area and a literature review that addresses relevant topics such as production routes and product analysis.