REGENERATION OF USED ENGINE OIL USING ACTIVATED CARBON AS A BLEACHING AGENT

REGENERATION OF USED ENGINE OIL USING ACTIVATED CARBON AS A BLEACHING AGENT

ABSTRACT

This work presents the result on the regeneration of used engine oil using activated carbon as the bleaching agent. The used oil undergoes acidification and bleaching processes to remove the aromatic contents and also improve the color and quality of the oil. The analysis carried out showed that when the formulated grades were compared with the standard grade (fresh oil), formulation A containing 300ml of used oil and 30m1 of sulfuric acid showed a better quality of regenerated oil among the different formulations with viscosity of 52. ‘6CP at 40°c, specific gravity of 0.865 and total acid number of 0.44. Followed by formulation B containing 300ml of used oil and 50rn1 of sulfuric acid shOwed a better quality of regenerated oil among the different formulations with viscosity of 40.23cP at 40°c, specific gravity of 0.784 and total acid number of 0.54, formulation C’ containing 250m1 of used oil and 30m1 of sulfuric acid showed a better quality of regenerated oil among the different formulations with viscosity of 38.94cP at 40°c. specific gravity of 0.779 and total acid number of 0.50, formulation D containing 300ml of used oil and 2Oml of sulfuric acid showed a better quality of regenerated oil among the different formulations with viscosity of 36.7OCP at 40°c, specific gravity of 0.790 and total acid number of 0.55, On the other hand, formulation E containing 250m1 of used oil and lOmI of sulfuric acid gave a fair quality because of the low volume of acid used and using activated charcoal all through.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

Engine or Lubricating oils are viscous liquids that are used for lubricating moving part of engines and machines. These oils are derived from petroleum base feed stocks which mainly consist of complex mixtures of hydrocarbon molecules. According to these hydrocarbon molecules usually range from low viscosity oils to high viscosity oil.

Lubricating oils help to protect rubbing surfaces, reduce friction between moving and connected parts, eliminate build up of temperature on the moving surfaces and keep the engine clean.

The main service properties of Engine oil are their viscosity, properties, fluidity at low temperatures, chemical stability and protective properties.

Lubricating oils have viscosities ranging from 10 to 1000 centistokes at 100°F to °C Analysis have shown that lube oil consist of aromatics in the range of 4 to 12 % free, sulfur and other impurities depending on the source of the hydrocarbon crude oil process and the production method. The color and odor of lubricating oil are largely caused by the nitrogen, sulfur and oxygen (NSO) compound concentrated in the crude oil and residue fraction. Investigation into the aromatic present in the lube base oil show that the aromatics are in homogeneity with the other compounds in the oil. Studies by America petroleum Institute (API) show that most of the aromatics present in lube base oil arc polynuclear in nature. (Ogbeide, 2011)

The used lubricating oils like the automobile lubricating oils are petroleum derived and originally produced through acid and bleaching treatment, vacuum distillation, solvent extraction dew axing, multiple refining steps and hydro finishing.

However, used lubricating oil are contaminated by contaminants or impurities obtained from undesirable oxidation product of automobile, sediment, metallic wear particles and water degraded additive and hazardous substances from lead compound. This contaminants or impure lubricant is what is drained off cars and disposed off as used or waste oil.

Large quantity of used lubricating oil is generated globally. As at 1996, Nigeria accounted for about 364,166,000 liters of used lubricating oil annually.

It is a common practice in Nigeria that used oil is disposed into gutters, water drains, open plots and farms. This leads to pollution of streams, ground water, lakes and oceans. II has been reported that one gallon of used oil has the potential to contaminate million gallons of fresh drinking water (EPA 530-F-94.-008). Used oil dump on the ground reduces soil productivity and makes the plants growing on the soil to be unsuitable for food. (Cooke, 1982)

1.1 WASTAGE OF THE OIL

Waste engine oil is a high pollutant material that requires responsible management. Waste engine oil may cause damage to the environment when dumped into the ground or into water streams including sewers. This may result in groundwater and soil contamination. Recycling of such contaminated materials will be beneficial in reducing engine oil costs. In addition, it will have a significant positive impact on the environment. The conventional methods of re-cycling of waste engine oil either requires a high cost technology such as vacuum distillation or the use of toxic materials such as sulfuric acid These methods also produce contaminating by-products which have highly sulfur levels, especially in the Kurdistan region/Iraq. Lubricant oils have been used primarily for reducing friction between moving puts of various machinery or equipment, minimize material wear, and improve the efficiency equipment /machinery and for fuel and energy savings. Access to lubricant is essential to any modem society and not only does lubrication reduce friction aid wear by interposition of a thin liquid film between moving surfaces, but it also removes heat, keeps equipment clean and prevents corrosion. One of its important applications includes gasoline and diesel engine oils. Waste lubricating oil refers to the engine oil, transmission oil, hydraulic and cutting oils after use. It is also refers to the degradation of the fresh lubricating component is that become contaminated by metals, ash. carbon residue, water, vanish, gum , and other contaminating materials, in addition to asphaltic compounds which resist from the bearing surface of the engines. These oils must be changed and removed from the automobile after few thousand kilometers of driving because of stress from serious deterioration in service.

The amount of lubricating oils that is collected annually in Europe and USA is very large, approximately 1.7 to 3.5 million tons. This large amount of waste engine oils has a significant impact on both economical and environmental aspects. They cost millions of dollars to manufacture and Represent a high pollutant material when disposed of. If discharged into the land, water or been burnt as a low grade fuel, this may cause serious pollution problem because they release harmful metals and other pollutants into the environment. (Weinstein, 1974).

A recommended solution for this issue is the recovery of the lubricating oil from the waste oil. Recycling processes using nontoxic and cost effective material can be an optimum solution. Acid-clay has been used as a recycling method for used engine oil for a long time. This method has many disadvantages; it also produces large quantity of pollutants, is unable to treat modern multi grade oils and it is difficult to remove asphaltic impurities. Solvent extraction has replaced acid treatment as the method of choice for improving the oxidative ability and viscosity/temperature characteristics of base oils. The solvent selectively dissolves the undesired aromatic components (the extraci), leaving the desirable saturated components, especially alkanes, as a separate phase (the raffinate). In one study a mixture of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) and 2-propanol was used as an extracting material for recycling used engine oils. Although the oil resulting from this process is comparable to that produced the acid-clay method, its cost is high. Expensive solvents and vacuum distillation are required to carry out this method. Recently propane was used as a solvent. Propane is capable of dissolving paraffinic or waxy material and intermediately dissolved oxygenated material.

Asphaltenes which contain heavy condensed aromatic compounds and particulate matter are soluble in the liquid propane. These properties make propane ideal for recycling the used engine oil, but there are many other issues that have to be considered. Propai4e is hazardous and flammable therefore this process is regarded as a hazardous process. Also the extraction olves solvent losses and highly skilled operating maintenance.

Membrane technology is another method for regeneration of used lubricating oils. In this method three types of polymer hollow fiber membranes [polyethersulfone (PES),

plyvinvlidene fluoride (PVDF), and polyacrylonitrile (PAN)] were used for recycling the

engine oils. The process is carried out at 40 °C and 0.1 MPa pressure. The process is a continuous operation as it removes metal particles and dusts from used engine oil and improves the recovered oils liquidity and flash point. Despite the above mentioned advantages, the expensive membranes may get damaged and fouled by large particles.

Vacuum distillation and hydrogenation are two other methods that can be used for recycling the engine oil. The Kinetics Technology International (KTI) process is a

combination of distillation and hydro finishing. This method removes most of the contaminants from the waste oil. The process starts with atmospheric distillation to eliminate water and light hydrocarbons. This is then followed by vacuum distillation at a temperature of 250 °C. The stage is hydrogenation of the products to eliminate the sulfur, nitrogen and oxygenated compounds. This stage is also used to improve the color and odor of the oil. The product can be of quality standard (Gp.I) with a yield of approximately 82% and minimized polluting byproducts. The disadvantage of this method is the high investment cost.

1.2 REGENERATION OF USED LUBRICATING OIL

Regeneration of used lubricating oil simply means the removal of the contaminants or impurities by sulfonating agents such as sulfuric acid, oleum or sulfur trioxide. About 80 % of the aromatics and other impurities are removed in the first circle while the remaining 20 % are removed in the second cycle of the operation.

During operation of engine, lubricating oil temperature builds up and degrades the oils leading to decline in important properties like: viscosity, specific gravity and flash point. Aside this dirt particle and worn out metal parts from engine surfaces are deposited into the oils. With the passage of time, this engine oil loses its functional properties and must be replaced with fresh lubricant Considering the fact that huge quantity of lubricating are oils used on daily basis, the frequent dumping of lubricating oils has now become a source of serious concern. It is on this premises that most countries of the world are presently paying serious attention.to the menace of environmental degradation caused by the disposal of waste or used lubricating oils. (Schmitz, 2003).

The rapid depletion of fossil fuel reserve which provide feedstock for the production of lubricating oil in Nigeria, shortage of fresh oil, increasing prices and high demand for lubricating oil have necessitated most industries and private users to seek or adopt ways of regenerating the oil.

Hence, this work is aimed at regenerating used engine oil using industrial bleaching earth and activated carbon as the bleaching agent. In this work, acid and bleaching treatment will be highly emphasized.

1.3 RECYCLING

Unlike the 1885 ancestors, the challenges for the design of modem car engines were meeting the emission requirements, increased speeding, engine weight reduction, production cost reduction, operating cost and fuel economy, then oils are not oil, just as the modem automobiles have advanced from raw base oil to pre — 1947 to those containing additives to help achieve the performance advantage required by the modem automobile.

1.3.1 IMPORTANCE OF RECYCLING USED ENGINE OIL

Used engine oil is incredibly toxic stuff and a gallon can contaminate one million gallon of water as well as rendering the soil in capable of sustaining plant life. Used oil doesn’t wear out, it just gets filthy. It can be cleaned of contaminants and recycled continuously. The dirty oil goes through the same refining process as oil that is extracted from wells, so it’s exactly a “a green” process, but it doesn’t have the added environment impact of the extraction.

1.3.2 RECYCLING PROCESS

The recycling process is as follows:

• Removal of any water
• Filtering to remove solid and additives
• De — asphalting to remove bituminous contents
• Distillation

1.4 AIM AND OBJECTIVE

The aim and objective of the study is aimed at assessing the recycling of used engine oil.

The need for conservation of crude reserves.

Minimizing unemployment through construction of used lubricating oil recycling plant.

The elimination of environmental pollution source of used lubricant.

1.5 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

Many people are aware that old engine oil shouldn’t be dumped, but recycled. Unfortunately, up to 100 million litres (approximately 26.4 million used gallons) of the

stuff is improperly disposed of each year in Autralia alone, According to the Department of the Environment, Water Heritage and Arts. The global figure would be staggering used engine oil is dumped as house hold trash, used as weed killer, pour in ditches, left laying about or illegally dumped.

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