Mechanical Engineering Associate Professor Pradeep Menezes and two of his former students, Ashish Kasar and Arpith Siddaiah, have published a reference text, "Multifunctional Bio-Based Lubricants," designed for researchers in the field of mechanical engineering and tribology.

According to the authors, there is a critical need for engineers to move away from conventional petroleum-based oils and lubricants in mechanical systems due to their environmental impact. With sustainability as a key focus, the book covers methods for synthesizing lubricants from waste plastics (an emerging technique) and discusses suitable techniques for their eventual disposal.