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Recycling Used Lubricating Oil Using Untreated, Activated and Calcined Clay Methods
Recycling Used Lubricating Oil Using Untreated, Activated and Calcined Clay Methods
ISSN: 1816-949X
© Medwell Journals, 2016
Abstract: This study addresses recycling of used lubricating oils treated using different methods involving
rmtreated clay as the control sample, clay activation and calcined clay methods. A recycling process of the used
lube oil was carried out which eventually led to comparison of results of the recycled oil with the fresh lube oil
using ASTM standards. Tests carried out on the used, fresh and recycled lube oils include: flash point,
kinematic viscosity at 40 and 100°C, respectively, specific gravity/density, appearance and total base oil. The
results show that recycled lubricating oil had the following properties: flash point was 227°C for the calcined
clay, 229°C or activated clay and 224°C for nntreated clay, compared with 204°C for nntreated waste oil. Also
Ttal Bse Number IBN) gave the followiug: 6.25mg KOHg-' for calcined clay method, 6.24 mg KOH g-' for
activated clay and 5.56 mg KOH g-' for uutreated clay method, compared with 4.41 mg KOH g-' for uutreated
waste lubricating oil. This gives the recycled lube oil the potential to be reused in car engines after adding the
required additives.
Key words: Used lubricating oil, refined lube oil, activated clay, calcined clay, environmental pollution
Corresponding Author: J.D. Udolllle, Department of Chemical and Polymer Engineering, Lagos State University, Lagos, Nigeria
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J. Eng. Applied Sci.• 11 (6): 1396-1401. 2016
methods of recycling of waste engine oil either requires a temperature of II 0°C and allowed to dry up. The dried
high cost technology such as vacuwn distillation or the clay was again ground into very fine particles and sieved
use of toxic materials such as sulfuric acid. These to a mesh of 0.5 mm using test sieve on a mechanical sieve
methods also produce contaminating by products which shaker. The clay soil was then sub-divided into three
have high sulfurlevels. The adsorption treatment of waste portions to be used for untreated clay, activated clay and
lube oil is based on the ability of adsorbent to selectively calcined clay preparations.
extract resinous and sulfur containing compmmds,
rmsaturated and polycyclic material and also organic Untreated clay: This is the portion of clay without
residues of sulfuric acid and solvents from oils. Natural chemical activation after the clay sample was ground,
clay, activated and calcinedare used as adsorbent in the washed and dried in the oven at 11 0°C.
treatment of oils. There are basically two treatment
methods and they include contact treatment and Clay activation: The 200 g of clay (after dirt. sand and
percolation or filtration through a bed of granulated stone have been removed) was made into sltmy with
adsorbent. 80 ern' of distilled water and followed by the addition
of 60 mL of 0.35 M solution of sulfuric acid. The slurry
MATERIALS AND METHODS
was then poured into allllllinlllll pan and left for 1 h at
temperature 1 00°C. The sltmy was then washed several
Clay soil, filter paper, fresh premilllll motor engine oil,
times with distilled water in order to remove any excess
used premilllll motor engine oil and distilled water which
acid, until it was neutral. The washed clay mixture was
was used throughout the experiment for sample
dried in an oven for 1 h and grounded into powdery form
preparation and dilution.
(ObohandAworh, 1991).
Collection of test samples: Clay soil was collected from
Iraye-Epe area of Lagos state, Nigeria. The test sample of Calcined clay: The third portion of the clay sample from
fresh lube oils (premilllll motor oil SAE-40) was collected section 2.3.2 above was then calcined by heating the clay
from 1.1RS oil service station. The used lubrication oil was soil in a fwnace at about 600°C for 5 h.
collected from a car mechanic's used oil dlllllp in Iba-Ojo
area of Lagos, Nigeria. Purification process of the used oil: The used engine oil
was purified using the various clay samples. Beginning
Apparatus/equipment: Apparatus and equipments used with the activated clay, it was ground and mixed with the
include conical flask, beaker (Pyrex), hydrometer, used engine oil that had been pre-heated for 5 min. The
plasticbowls, allllllinlllll pan, BW1Sen bwner, weighing mixture was then thoroughly blended together with the
balance, oven, mechanical shaker, Thermostatbath aid of a stirrer. The mixture was kept 24 h to allow for
(FALC WB-MF Model). prolonged contact and chemical reaction between the
spent oil and the activated clay. The impurities in the used
Experimental procedure: The methods used in the engine oil and the clay particles were allowed to settle and
re-refining of the used lubricating oils include methods
with the aid of sieve cloth, the oil was sieved to obtain the
such as, filtration process to remove impurities, clay
purified lube oil sample. The purification of the used lube
preparation before clay activation and calcined clay
oil was repeated using other clay types.
soil.
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J. Eng. Applied Sci., 11 (6): 1396-1401,2016
150
145
;:
~ 135
~ 130
125
120
Minim um Fresh Oil Used Oil Untreated Clay Clay Activa t ion Calcined Clay
Specification Method Met hod Met hod
Fig. 1: Effects of the recycling of used lube oil on its flash point
155
15 0
145
~ 140
E
E • Lu b Oil
..... 135 Sam p les
Q
?:
·;;; • Min5pec
13 0
8
5 1 25 • Max Spec
12 0
Sp eci ficat•on Fresh Oil Used OOntrea ted Cla~~a tlon ~lm:d! Clay Method
Fig. 2: Effects of the recycling of used lube oil on its viscosity at 40°C
18
16
14
12
~
..,~
10
~ 8
i'
8
6
:S 4
0
spccificaton fresh oil used oil un treated clay act ivation c.alcfncd clay
clay method method method
Fig. 3: Effects of the recycling of used lube oil on its viscosity at 100°C
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J. Eng. Applied Sci., 11 (6): 1396-1401,2016
105 T
100
-;;;
:e,_
E
95
Q 90
?:
'8
!:( 85
5
80
75
f resh oil u sed oi l unt rea ted clay clay activa t ion calcined clay
m e t hod met hod met hod
Fig. 4: Effect of recycling of waste used lube oil on its viscosity index
6
~
..
::r::
~ 5
..,~ 4
.... 3
0
Fresh Oil Used Oil U n trea ted Clay Clay Activat ion Calcined Clay
Method Method Met hod
Fig. 5: Effect of recycling of used lube oil on its Total base oil
0 .896
0 .895
-E
"3 0 .894
?:
-~ 0 .893
.:5
:E 0 .892
i 0 .891
0 .89
0.889
Fresh 011 Used Oil Untreated Clay Clay Act•va t 1on Calcined Clay
Method Method Method
Fig. 6: Effect of recycling of waste used lube oil on its specific gravity
Appearance: This indicates the brightness and clarity of the treated lube oil have a dark appearance. The dark
petroleum products. The results of the appearance appearance of the used lube oil and those from the
(Table 1) of the fresh lube oil, used lube oil treated methods were due to their combustion and
and the treated lube oil show that the fresh oil oxidation at high temperature by the combustion engine
have a clear and bright color while the used and for a very long time.
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J. Eng. Applied Sci., 11 (6): 1396-1401,2016
897
896
895
I:::
-s
~ 892
891
890
889
u sed ou Unt,.c~ tcd Clav Cl.:-v Act•vi.ltion CiJiclncd Cli.lv
Mc·t hod Met hod Me·thod
Flash Point: The flash point indicates how easy shown in Table 1. The plot of kinematic viscosities
lubricating oil may ignite and burn. The flash point of of each of the lube oils (Fig. 3) reveals that they all fell
lubricating oil is the lowest temperature where it will within the required mmnnum and maxnnum
evaporate enough fluid or vapor to form a combustible specification limits of lube oils.
concentration of gas with air that can be ignited
spontaneously by a specified flame. Viscosity index: The viscosity index is obtained by
The result of the flash point of the fresh lube oil, used electronic software which depends on the kinematic
lube oil and the treated lube oil above shows that, there viscosity of the samples at 40 and 1OOOC, respectively and
was a decrease in the used lubricating oil which is below shows a linear relationship. The result also indicates that,
the minimum specification of SAE-40 lube oils. The the used lube oil have the least viscosity index which
decrease in the used lube oil was due to contamination of indicate the dilution of light oil or very volatile component
very volatile component. On treating, the volatile but after treatment, the volatile components were
components were extracted from the used lube oil. There extracted to an extent which then increased the
by increasing the flash point above the minimum viscosity index of the lube oil. Figure 4 shows the various
specification of SAE-40 except the untreated clay method. viscosity indexes of four lube oil samples compared
to the fresh oil sample.
Viscosity at 40°C: The results (Table 1) of the Kinematic
Viscosities (KV) at 40°Cusing the ASTM-D 0092 Method Total base number: Total Base Number (TBN) 1s a
shows that the waste used oil sample with Kinematic measure of reserved alkaline additives put into lubricants
Viscosity (KV) of 135.52 CST mm sec-2 and those of the to neutralize acids, retard oxidation and corrosion,
recycled lube oil are as follows from the untreated clay enhance lubricity, improve viscosity characteristic and
method, KV is 139.83 CSTmm sec-2, from Clay Activation reduce the tendency of sludge buildup. It is a test to
Method, KV is 137 .41 CSTmm sec-2 and from calcined measure the ability to neutralize corrosive acids that may
method, KV is 139. 77 CST mm sec-2 The plot of be formed during normal operation.
kinematic viscosities of each of the lube oils (Fig. 2) Internal combustion engine oils are formulated with
reveals thatthey all fell within the required specification a highly alkaline base additives package to neutralize the
range (Brinkman et al., 1981 ). This shows that at 40°C, the acidic products composition. The TBN is a measure of
waste used oil and the recycled methods still retained the this package and it may be used as an indication for the
viscosity specification range (130-150 CST mm sec-2). engine oil's replacement time. This is because TBN
depletes with time in service. Higher oil TBN values are
Viscosity at 100°C: The result of the kinematicviscosity more effective at neutralizing acids for longer periods of
at 1 00°C shows that there is a decrease in the viscosity of time (Dong et al., 2001 ). The results of the analysis of the
lube oil as the temperature is increasing. The result also total base number show that, there is a decrease of the
indicates that, the used lube oil have the least viscosity TBN of used oil and those from the recycled methods
compared to the recycled and fresh lube oils. This may be compared to that of the fresh oil. This is because some
due to contamination of a very volatile component amount of base has been used up to neutralize the acid
(light oil) present in the oil. After treatment, the volatile formed during usage of the oil. After treatment there was
components were extracted from the used oil and an increase of the total base number from 5.56 (used lube
consequently increased the viscosity of the lube oils as oil) to 6.20 for oil from the untreated clay method, 6.26 for
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J. Eng. Applied Sci.• 11 (6): 1396-1401. 2016
oil from the calcined clay method except for the clay ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
activation method where a decrease in IBN ( 4.41) was
noticed. But in comparison with the IBN (8.20) of the Researchers gratefully acknowledge the financial
fresh lube oil, there is a decrease IBN of lube oil in all the support from the Management of Covenant University to
methods used. This may be due to the presence of the publish this study.
metallic and acidic elements present in the clay sample.
The decrease is however, more pronmmced in the clay REFERENCES
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