Refining of used Engine Oil

Abstract

This paper presents the result of Recycling of used engine oil using glacial acetic acid, kaolinite and activated charcoal. After a certain period of useful life, the lubricating oil loses its properties and cannot be used as such in machinery. Build up of temperature degrade the lubricating oil ,thus leading to reduction in properties such as viscosity, density, flash point etc. Dirt and metal parts worn out from the surfaces are also deposited into the lubricating oils. with increased time of usuage, the lubricating oil loses its lubricating properties as a result over reduction of desired properties, it must be replaced with a fresh one.The lubricating oil consist of 98% Base oil and 2% additives,the base oil never gets spoiled,it only gets dirty hence using the refining process the contaminants and the additives are separated from the base oil. It is a device that receives used engine oil and refines devalued properties of the oil close to its original valued properties. The process includes various steps like supplementation of glacial acetic acid, mixing, centrifuging, mixing of kaolinite , dehydration and bleaching using activated charcoal.The unit is semi-automated,it is programmed by using a arduino board,Testing of the used engine oil and the refined engine oil was carried out sucessfully,the refining of used engine oil with acetic acid-clay treatment was carried out sucessfully resulting in red transparent colour base oil.This process of refining of used engine oil did not emit poisonous gases like sulphur dioxide to the atmosphere.In addition the glacial acetic acid has less impact on the processing equipment compared with sulphuric acid.This method produces base oil comparable to that produced using conventional methods.