Revivification of Spent Lubricating Oil by Ecofriendly Extraction Flocculation Method

Abstract

The present study focuses on the regeneration of spent engine oil using the cheapest and most effective solvent extraction flocculation processes. Re-refining of waste lubricating oil was thoroughly examined utilizing recoverable solvents, including different classes of solvents like 2-propanol (alcohol) and ketone like methyl ethyl ketone. A comparative study was carried out to investigate the various effects of numerous variables, including refining time, refining temperature, solvent-to-waste oil ratio on percentage yield of recovered lube oil. The percentage yield was studied at a varying solvent-to-waste oil ratio. The present investigation shows that extraction with methyl ethyl ketone gave the highest yield of 97% of recovered oil, followed by 2-propanol (94%) as an extraction solvent. It was also showed that optimum parameters for revivification were (i) refining time 60 min, (ii) refining temperature—48℃, (iii) solvent-to-waste oil ratio—3:1. Physicochemical properties of recovered oil have been estimated out, and results show that, with methyl ethyl ketone, there is close proximity of result with fresh lubricating oil.