EKOBLUE

EB_logo

Technical Terms

Trusted by 25,000+ world-class brands and organizations of all sizes.

BIOACCUMULATION
The gradual accumulation of substances, such as pesticides, or other chemicals in an organism. Bioaccumulation occurs when an organism absorbs a substance at a rate faster than that at which the substance is lost by catabolism and excretion.
BIOBASED LUBRICANT
Lubricant that is derived from renewable and biodegradable base stocks from plant or animal sources.
BIODEGRADABILITY
The capacity of a material to decompose over time as a result of biological activity, especially to be broken down by microorganisms.
BIODEGRADABLE LUBRICANT
Non-petroleum, natural ester and synthetic ester base oils which are minimally toxic that are combined with special additives that give them their desired lubrication properties while exhibiting greater than 60% biodegradability.
ENVIRONMENTALLY ACCEPTABLE LUBRICANTS (EAL)
Environmentally Acceptable Lubricants or EALs are lubricants that are biodegradable and minimally toxic, and are not bioaccumulative – as defined in Appendix A of the 2013 VGP.
HYDRAULIC ENVIRONMENTAL PAO (POLYALPHAOLEFINS) (HEPR)
A biodegradable hydraulic fluid which uses polyalphaolefins and related hydrocarbons as the base fluid. These base stocks are synthesized from crude oil derivatives.
HYDRAULIC ENVIRONMENTAL TRIGLYCERIDE (HETG)
A biodegradable, water-insoluble triglyceride derived from plant or animal oils – with soy and canola being the most common sources.
HYDRAULIC ENVIRONMENTAL FIRE RESISTANT ESTERS (HFDU)
A biodegradable, fire-resistant hydraulic fluid according to ISO 12922, which uses natural esters as the base fluid.
INHERENTLY BIODEGRADABLE
At least 20% biodegradable according to OECD 301B.
MINIMALLY TOXIC / LOW TOXICITY LUBRICANTS
According to EPA 800-R-11-002 to pass OECD 201 & 202 for acute toxicity, must be at least 100mg/L for hydraulic fluids and 1000mg/L for greases, two-stroke oils, & all other total loss lubricants.
NATURAL ESTER BASE OIL
Oil derived from plant-based sources and used because of its renewability, biodegradability, minimal toxicity, and natural lubricity.
NON-BIOACCUMULATIVE LUBRICANT
A lubricant is considered not potentially bioaccumulative if one of the following conditions is met: it has a molar mass greater than 800 g/mol or a molecular diameter greater than 1.5 nm; it has a log Kow less than 3 or greater than 7; or it has a measured BCF less than 100 L/Kg (European Commission, 2004).
OECD 301B
An aerobic biodegradation test standard that introduces a material to an inoculum in a closed environment and measures biodegradation of the material by CO2 evolution.
PAO
Polyalphaolefin is by far the most common major synthetic base oil used in industrial and automotive lubricants. It is a synthetic hydrocarbon (SHC) that mimics the best hydrocarbon (branched) structure found in mineral oils. PAOs are used extensively in automotive fluids as well as hydraulic, gear, and bearing oils, working in extremely cold climates or hot applications. They are also employed as base fluids in some wide temperature range greases. Polyalphaolefins also have poor fire resistance and biodegradability.
READILY BIODEGRADABLE
Greater than 60% biodegradable within 28 days according to OECD 301B.
SHEEN FREE LUBRICANT
As defined in Appendix A of the 2013 VGP, a lubricant formulation that does not exhibit a visible sheen on the water surface, as tested in accordance with ASTM D7843 (including USCG 46 CFR). Minimally toxic, does not bioaccumulate, inherently or readily biodegradable.