PYROLYSIS OF SPENT LUBRICATING OIL USING SIMPLE RECYCLING TECHNIQUE TO REDUCE ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS

Abstract

The recycling of spent lubricating oil would reduce the environmental concerns associated with its indiscriminate disposal. Since temperature influences the properties of lubricating oil, this study investigated the effect of temperature on the properties and metals composition of used lubricating oil using simple recycling techniques. The spent lubricating oil after pyrolysis yielded 79.1 % liquid fraction, 18.2 % gaseous fraction and 2.7% solid fraction or char. The properties and composition of the pyrolysis oil were determined using the Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrophotometer (GCMS), this shows that the major composition of the refined oil is 34.037 % Octamethyl- Cyclotetrasiloxane (C8H24O4Si4). Results indicated that since the properties of viscosity, pour point and metals composition in the pyrolysis oil were improved upon at a high temperature of 420℃, waste or spent oil is a viable feedstock for lubricant production. Keywords: lubricating oil; pyrolysis; fuel properties; temperature; spent oil.