Nano (metal oxide)-based catalytic membranes for refining of petroleum lubricating oil feedstock

Abstract

Worldwide, the refining of lubricating oils feedstock is basically carried out either by solvent or hydrotretment refining. Both methodologies can provide integrated processes; hence oils of good quality can be gained. Nevertheless, these processes are always escorted with environmentally harmful emissions and long-operational time as well as high energy ingesting. Thus, implementation of green chemistry trend in such field could particularly help in the reduction of both hazardous emissions and extensive use of energy. In proportion to this route, current research study provides a new platform for the refining of lube oils base-stocks via combining both membrane separation and nanotechnology concept. Four different freshly-prepared nano-structured metals oxides (MgO, Al2O3, BaO and SrO) membranes were used during this study. Reasonable removal of aromatics as well as reduction of the pour point values in the products, compared to the original feedstock, could be obtained by all membranes. However, the best performance (among the four types) could be detected for both MgO and Al2O3 membranes. Particularly, they showed fluid total permeability of ca 95% with a flux equal 1.793 × 10−8 (L/m2.h.bar) and selectivity of aromatics over saturates came up to nearly 420. Those values were attained at low operating conditions of time (10 min), temperature (50 °C) and pressure of 100 mbar.