This week in the lab, Airable has been working on a simple but effective technology, blown soybean oil (BSBO). BSBO is soybean oil that was heated above 212℉ by dry air being “blown” into the oil with intense stirring, oxidizing the soybean oil and effectively decreasing the amount of double bonds. With a decrease in the unsaturation of the oil, the viscosity will in turn increase. Viscosity in the measurement of how thick or sticky a liquid is. High viscosities relate to better lubricants, because of their ability to reduce friction and allow for machinery to have longer lifetimes. This technology can then be further used as a food-safe industrial machine lubricant or hydraulic fluid. BSBO is food-safe because it has not been chemically modified in any way to increase its viscosity. It is also easily reproducible, where large quantities can be made with no outside chemicals being utilized.

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