The Reclamation of Fine Lubricating Oil From Flat Lubricating Oil Using a Combination of Activated Animal Charcoal and Amberlite Resin

Abstract

This study aims at recovering quality rerefined (fine) and metal-free base oil from used lubricating oil. Samples of used lubricating oils were subjected to sedimentation, extraction using methylethylketone and elution using n-hexane on activated animal charcoal, amberlite resin, and ratio 1:1 mixture of activated animal charcoal/amberlite resin separately to produce fine oils. The fine oils obtained, unused, and used (control) lubricating oils of the same brand (Mobil Super XHP SAE 20W-50) were subjected to atomic absorption spectroscopy (Buck Model 205) to determining the levels of 10 wear metals (Fe, Cu, Mn, Cd, Zn, Ni, Cr, Pb, Sb, and Se). Iron has the highest mean concentration (638.56 μg/g), while Mn has the least average level (8.72 μg/g) in the used lubricating oils. Comparison of the elemental concentrations of the rerefined oil with the used and unused (control) lubricating oils indicated that the concentrations of the analyzed wear metals were high in the used and unused (control) lubricating oils. This was corroborated by their t test values. All the three adsorbents used are confirmed to be effective in metal removal from the used lubricating oils, but the mixture (1:1) of the activated animal charcoal/amberlite resin proved to be the best option since the elusion is moderately fast, apart from been an effective metal removal adsorbent, it removed unwanted obnoxious color effectively.