Chapter One Introduction
Chapter One
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Overview
Used lubricating oil can be a beneficial substance and a source of
[1, 2, 3]
energy, if administered properly . Lubricating oils do not wear out; it
just gets dirty after use. Thus, used lubricating oil can be re-refined to
produce an effective fresh base oil or other products. Besides, Re-Refining
of used oil is one of the best ways to protect the environment, and conserves
energy resource [16].
Lubricating oils employ in automotive engine to protect the surfaces
from wear due to friction, promote easier motion of the connected parts and
remove high build-up of temperature, which resulting from moving surface,
This leads to a reduction in lubricant oil properties, such as colour, viscosity,
flash point etc. [4].
This lubricating oil after a period time of use in engine leads to the
deterioration of the original oil components as a result of exposure to
oxidation at high temperature, which lead to crack the bonds between the
atoms, or because of contaminant formation [5, 6].
Therefore, used oil must be removed and replaced with virgin oil or
re-refined type to ensure efficient engine performance. Disposal of this used
oil may be very dangerous to the environment due to the presence of toxic
[7]
components and metals . It has been reported that the presence of heavy
metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the automotive used
oil composition actually turns them highly noxious and carcinogenic [8, 9] and
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Chapter One Introduction
when released into the environment, they contaminate live organisms, soil,
and underground water [15]. When used oil contacts the water surface, it will
form oil film and prevent sunlight, this effect of the photosynthesis process
and prevent the renewal of dissolved oxygen, which leads to the death of
aquatic flora and fauna [3].
The disposal of used lubricating oils to environment constitute a
danger to human health and impact on the plant growth because they contain
heavy metals and hydrocarbons, polyclorinatedbiphnyls (PCBs),
halogenated compounds and lubrication additives [11], if burnt as a low grade
[12]
fuel, the pollutant may be released into the air . This environment
polluting material (used oil) can be utilized to achieve two goals, firstly,
recovering the base oil by re-refining process and this achieves economic
interest, and secondly preventing the disposition of this hazardous substance
to the environment and thus reducing environmental pollution [13]. Therefore,
to convert the harmful wastes into harmless material, it needs to increase the
collection and re-refining of the used oil.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, every gallon of
used oil makes a million gallons of water undrinkable also, used oil contains
[14]
energy about 14,000 BTU/ gallon if converted into fuel .
In Iraq, until now, the level of public awareness is low in relation to
environmental impacts and disposed of used lubricating oils improperly.
Therefore, one must convert these harmful wastes into harmless substances
by processing and recycling to take the advantage of their economic value
and help to keep the natural resources.
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Chapter One Introduction
1.2 Research Motivation
1. Used lubricating oils lead to the harmful side effects of the
environment if discharged into the water and soil.
2. If used lubricating oils burned as a low- grade fuel, they could
cause air pollution.
3. Used lubricating oil can be an important and valuable source if
the administration has been done correctly.
4. Crude oil has about 3-8% base oil, while lube crude oil has
about 12-16% base oil, therefore, when comparing it with the
recovered base oil by re-refining process, it gives about 65-
75%. We concluded that the process of production of
lubricating oils from used oil is better than its production of
crude oil.
5. If used oil was burned or dumped this mean lose its precious
value as well as rise the crude oil prices in the global markets
and the large demand for it. This makes us have to think
seriously about new ways to produce various kinds of oil
fractions from used oil and do not depend on crude oil only.
Hence, we see that this research is linked to the economic and
environmental impacts in Iraq and try to find a solution to this problem
optimally taken from reality, in addition to that the indifference in the
presence of the processing unit of used oil in Iraq which exacerbates this
problem.
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Chapter One Introduction
1.3 Problem Statement
Used lubricating oil is one of the effluent that needs further treatment
in the country. This problem is one of the problems proposed from Baiji
Refinery to the Oil Ministry/ Iraq in 2013. Currently, this effluent being
drained to the environment. It causes a lot of problems. So, the base oil must
be recovered from the used lubricating oil by using chemical solvents, but
the best solvent should be chosen to get the high sludge removal and
acceptable properties of recovered base oil in order to commercialize the
product and make it profitable.
1.4 Aim and Objectives
The aim of this research is to re-refine the used lubricating oil by
solvent extraction and clay adsorption to recover the base oil by using a
statistical method to study the effect of variables and find the optimum
conditions which lead to minimize the cost in this method.
1.5 Scope of Research
This work is limited to the recovery of base oil from used lubricating
oil and characterization of the used oil as well as recovered base oil.
Therefore, the research scopes for this study are:
1. Collecting and characterization of used oil, recovered base oil
and comparing it with the standard Iraqi specification of base
oil type 60 stock.
2. Study the effects of using different solvent types and using them
in the extraction process.
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Chapter One Introduction
3. Choosing an effective statistical method in the extraction
process for data processing to determine the effect of variables
on the percent sludge removal and to find out the optimum
conditions that give the best percentage removal of sludges as
well as knowledge of interactions between variables.
4. Study the effect of operating variable, such as a solvent /used
oil ratio, extraction temperature and mixing speed on the
percent sludge removal in the solvent extraction process.
5. Study the effect of adding some chemicals to the solvent (KOH,
NaOH, MEA and DEA) and its impact on the solvent to remove
the sludge in the extraction process.
6. Carrying out further purification by the clay adsorption process.
7. Characterizing the recovered base oil and comparing it with the
standard Iraqi specification of base oil type 60 stock.
1.6 Significance of Research
The importance of the research includes as follows:
1. Recycling of used oil generated from the diesel engine and
converted it to fresh base oil necessary to the protection of all
rotating parts of machinery or equipment.
2. Energy save, energy consumed in the used oil re-refining is
about 1/3 energy consumed in the production of lubricating oil
from crude oil.
3. Taking full advantage of used lubricating oils.
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Chapter One Introduction
4. Environment save, disposal of this used oil to the environment,
and sewer causes serious environmental pollution as well as
the high costs of wastewater treatment.
Thus, the above points illustrates the importance of establishing a
project that serves the environment through used oil recycling and can thus
preserve the environment from pollution and contribute to the benefit of
these raw materials and economic benefit.
