Scribd
Upload
35 views1 page

Life Cycle Assessment of Waste Strategies For Used Lubricating Oil

The study evaluates the environmental impacts of used lubricating oil (ULO) recovery strategies in Egypt, focusing on recycling by re-refining and recovery by co-firing. Life cycle assessment (LCA) reveals that recycling by re-refining is the more eco-friendly option, significantly reducing environmental burdens and conserving energy. Key processes affecting environmental impacts include de-asphalting, de-aromatization, and de-waxing, with fossil fuel depletion being the most significant impact category.

Uploaded by

petrolink2021
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
35 views1 page

Life Cycle Assessment of Waste Strategies For Used Lubricating Oil

The study evaluates the environmental impacts of used lubricating oil (ULO) recovery strategies in Egypt, focusing on recycling by re-refining and recovery by co-firing. Life cycle assessment (LCA) reveals that recycling by re-refining is the more eco-friendly option, significantly reducing environmental burdens and conserving energy. Key processes affecting environmental impacts include de-asphalting, de-aromatization, and de-waxing, with fossil fuel depletion being the most significant impact category.

Uploaded by

petrolink2021
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Life cycle assessment of waste strategies for used

lubricating oil
Eslam M. Hassanain1 & M. A. Metwally2 & M. S. Hassouna3
(1) Department of Distillation, Alexandria Petroleum Company (APC),
Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Alexandria, Egypt
(2) Egyptian Petrochemicals Company (EPC),
Egyptian Petrochemicals Holding Company (ECHEM), Cairo, Egypt
(3) Environmental Studies Department, Institute of Graduate Studies & Research,
Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
Corresponding Author: [email protected], Telephone: (002)01206612203,
Address: Alexandria Petroleum Co., Al-Mex street, Alexandria, Egypt.

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the environmental impacts of used lubricating oil (ULO)
recovery in the largest oil consumer country in Africa, Egypt. The main questions were: What are
the impacts of the different waste management strategies for the recovery of used lubricating oil
and which waste management strategy is more eco-friendly?
Life cycle assessment (LCA) was employed to model the environmental impacts of the two waste
management approaches for used lubricating oil recovery in Egypt: recycling by re-refining and
recovery by co-firing. The model was applied to assess the impacts of one of the largest ULO
recovery units in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and the only operating unit in
Egypt. The following impact categories were included: global warming potential (GWP),
acidification potential (AP), eutrophication potential (EP), carcinogens potential (CP), ecotoxicity
potential (ETP), respiratory inorganic formation potential (RIFP), respiratory organic formation
potential (ROFP), radiation potential (RP), ozone layer depletion (OLD), mineral depletion (MD),
land use (LU) and fossil fuel depletion (FFD). Results indicated that recycling by re-refining
strategy is more environment-friendly. De-asphalting, de-aromatization and de-waxing processes
are the main processes that affect the environmental impacts of lubricating oil production in both
strategies, due to the use of hazard materials and toxic solvents in these processes. Fuel gas and
fuel oil used as a fuel in the refinery and power units are the main contributors affecting the
environmental impacts in case of recycling by re-refining strategy. The highest impacts were
detected on FFD, followed by RIFP, GWP, AP, EP, ETP and CP in both strategies; no impacts
were detected on RP, OLD and MD. It can be concluded that recycling by re-refining of ULO is
the more eco-friendly approach. This strategy is more energy conservative, saves a diminishing
fossil fuel resource and reduces burdens on the environment. ULO containing high percentages of
additive remnants such as viscosity index improvers and pour point depressants which represents
a valuable resource and its proper management should be given the most attention.

You might also like