Biodegradability of lubricant base stocks and fully formulated products

Increasing awareness of the environmental impact of consumer and industrial products has produced a demand for lubricants that biodegrade. There is a number of biodegradation tests that can be used on lubricants, although not all are always appropriate, as this paper explains. The CEC test is among the best known and is in use for both conventional and synthetic oils. There will, in future, be a greater movement to biodegradable oils in Europe, perhaps extending to all oils.