RECOVERY OF BASE OIL FROM USED OIL/WASTE OIL

RECOVERY OF BASE OIL FROM USED OIL/WASTE OIL
[CODE NO.3420]

Now-a-days engine oil has become an important factor for automobile and other purposes and since the prices of all petroleum products have gone up. It has become extremely necessary to refine used engine oil which could be reused as original. Keeping this view Defense Research (Materials), Kanpur has developed a very simple process which envisages utilization of sulphuric acid, activated clay and filter aid as the raw materials and the suggested reclaimed economical unit for this industry is 200 tons per annum, and estimated capital outlay is Rs.1.5 lacs.

Engine oil becomes contaminated with foreign material in service. In circulating systems, where a substantial quantity of oil is involved, it is desirable to maintain it as clean as possible to provide maximum working efficiency and to keep wear and damage of lubricated parts to a minimum.

Reconditioning of a used oil/waste oil may be accomplished by a continuous by pass or batch methods or combination of these. In the continuous system the entire amount of the oil from main pressure line is continuously filtered. In the bypass system a fraction of the total is continuously filtered.

Contaminants is a used oiled may be divided into two classes.

1. Products resulting from chemical action, within the system i.e. mainly by products of combustion.

2. Foreign materials which enter the system.

Products resulting from chemical action within the system are as follows:

i. Carbon and other products of decomposition of oil or of incomplete combustion of fuel.

ii. Oxidation products (which may be either soluble or insoluble in the oil) due to chemical action at high temperatures.

iii. Gummy products both soluble and in soluble resulting from polymerization (combining) of unsaturated components in the oil.

iv. Sulphur compounds :-

Formed by sulphur in the oil or fuel foreign material may include some of the following:

a) Dirt and dust from the air.

b) Metal particles resulting from wear of operating parts of the machine, or left over from machining operation during on overhaul.

c) Foundary cores and from castings.

d) Water condensed from air moisture or products of fuel combustion, and Fuel dilution.