Used lubricants disposal

Used oil disposal trends include waste minimisation such as by reclaiming used fluid on site, as well as recycling of mineral oil lubricants instead of disposing by incineration. The recycling effort involves a system where spent mineral oils are collected then shipped to specialty refineries where the materials are distilled, hydrofinished, and re-refined into fresh base stocks. These re-refined materials are virtually identical to virgin feedstocks. 

Distillation/Clay Treatment Thin-film distillation under high vacuum, such as Luwa evaporators, separates gas oil, lubricant oils and an asphaltic residue containing most of the additives and contaminants from the used lubricant feedstock. The lubricant base oil stream is finished by clay frealmenl. Overall base oil yields are again 70-80% and significant amounts of spent clay must be disposed of. 

Of the three basic methods of disposal of used lubricants, the most efficient in terms of energy conservation, in that it displaces an equivalent amount of oil, is the use of the material as a fuel or a fuel supplement. In heating processes where the fuel is supplied through a burner, some limited pre-treatment of the waste lubricants and blending with conventional fuels is necessary. 

The other major sources of metals in waste lubricants are those resulting from wear or use. The disposal of waste lube oils has been recognized as a potential pollution problem for many years. However, not until 1966 was the first attempt made to bring the problem into focus service stations throughout the United States were surveyed to determine how they disposed of their waste automotive oils. The results of that survey led to a better awareness of the pollution potential of used lubricants and to the eventual formation of an American Petroleum Institute Task Force on Used Oil Disposal. 

Only one comprehensive study of waste lubricant disposal has apparently been done. This study, by Arthur D. Little, Inc., showed the ultimate fate of used automobile oil in the State of Massachusetts (Table 7.9). 

If waste-lubricant disposal is subdivided into two general categories—dumping and reprocessing—it appears that as much as three-fourths of the nation s used automotive oils may be disposed of by dumping. 

In the interim there are other important health care applications for silicone fluids. Many of these involve its use as a lubricant. The availability of silicone fluid as a lubricant for use on disposable hypodermic needles (Figure 24) contributed to the development of the disposable hypodermic needle. Essentially all disposable hypodermic needles are lubricated with silicone fluid to permit easy insertion and removal, and to minimize pain. Prior to the use of silicone fluid lubricants disposable needles tended to be very painful and sometimes broke or bent upon insertion. 

Recent concern about environmental issues regarding cutting fluids has raised the problem of using lubricants containing chlorinated chemical compounds because chlorine causes serious air pollution in connection with dioxin emission when they are disposed by incineration. At the moment, the most practicable replacement... 

Dispose of used lubricant in accordance with applicable laws. 

In the United States, automotive and other Industrial sources generate about 1.2 billion gallons of used oil each year. The most pertinent features of this oil with regard to recycle and disposal problems are flash point and water, sediments, ash, nitrogen, and oxygen content. Many of the impurities are dispersed in the oil due to the very effective dispersant characteristics of the additives in a modern-day lubricant system(1) ... 

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