Patent ID: 8796191

Claim:
A biodegradable grease composition comprising the reaction product of a dispersion of metal oxide and/or hydroxide particulates with at least one hydroxystearic acid in at least one vegetable oil, the dispersion comprising an organic medium and the metal oxide and/or hydroxide particulates dispersed in the organic medium, the dispersion having a water content of up to about 0.5% by weight, the particulates having a mean particle size in the range up to about 15 microns, the reaction product having a grease consistency; and wherein the reaction product is prepared by mixing the dispersion, the at least one hydroxystearic acid, and the at least one vegetable oil; wherein the metal of the metal oxide and/or hydroxide particulates comprises lithium; wherein the concentration of the metal oxide and/or hydroxide particulates in the dispersion is from 10% to about 62% by weight; wherein the vegetable oil is present in the grease from 80 to 90 percent by weight; wherein the dispersion is present in the reaction mixture from 1 to 10 percent by weight; wherein the hydroxystearic acid is present in the reaction mixture from 5 to 25 percent by weight; and wherein the resulting soap content in the grease is from 4 to 35 percent by weight.