Waste Transformer Oil Research Articles

Effects of hydrocarbon fuel extracted from waste transformer oil on a DI diesel engine

In this study, hydrocarbon fuel (HCF) was derived from waste transformer oil through a traditional base-catalysed trans-esterification process. The experimental investigations using its blends of 25%, 50%, 75%, 100% and diesel fuel were carried out separately. The HCF obtained from waste transformer oil is used in a direct injection (DI) diesel engine without any engine modification to evaluate its performance, emission and combustion characteristics. The results indicate that the engine operating on test fuel blends shows a marginal increase in brake thermal efficiency (BTE) with a significant reduction in smoke. Nitrous oxides (NOx) emission was slightly higher for test fuel blends than for diesel. The results show that at maximum load conditions, 25% HCF reduces carbon monoxide, smoke and hydrocarbon emission by 50%, 31% and 10%, respectively, whereas 50% HCF shows a greater BTE than other blends and is 12% higher than that of the diesel fuel. The combustion characteristics of fuel blends closely followed those of standard diesel.

Fuel and engine characterization study of catalytically cracked waste transformer oil

This research work targets on the effective utilization of WTO (waste transformer oil) in a diesel engine and thereby, reducing the environmental problems caused by its disposal into open land. The novelty of the work lies in adoption of catalytic cracking process to chemically treat WTO, wherein waste fly ash has been considered as a catalyst for the first time. Interestingly, both the oil and catalyst used are waste products, enabling reduction in total fuel cost and providing additional benefit of effective waste management. With the considerable token that use of activated fly ash as catalyst requires lower reaction temperature, catalytic cracking was performed only in the range of 350–400°C. As a result of this fuel treatment process, the thermal and physical properties of CCWTO (catalytically cracked waste transformer oil), as determined by ASTM standard methods, were found to be agreeable for its use in a diesel engine. Further, FTIR analysis of CCWTO discerned the presence of essential hydrocarbons such as carbon and hydrogen. From the experimental investigation of CCWTO – diesel blends in a diesel engine, performance and combustion characteristics were shown to be improved, with a notable increase in BTE (brake thermal efficiency) and PHRR (peak heat release rate) for CCWTO 50 by 7.4% and 13.2%, respectively, than that of diesel at full load condition. In the same note, emissions such as smoke, HC (hydrocarbon) and CO (carbon monoxide) were noted to be reduced at the expense of increased NOX (nitrogen oxides) emission.

Biodegradation of waste lubricants by a newly isolated Ochrobactrum sp. C1.

A potential degrader of paraffinic and aromatic hydrocarbons was isolated from oil-contaminated soil from steel plant effluent area in Burnpur, India. The strain was investigated for degradation of waste lubricants (waste engine oil and waste transformer oil) that often contain EPA (Environmental Protection Agency, USA) classified priority pollutants and was identified as Ochrobactrum sp. C1 by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The strain C1 was found to tolerate unusually high waste lubricant concentration along with emulsification capability of the culture broth, and its degradation efficiency was 48.5 ± 0.5 % for waste engine oil and 30.47 ± 0.25 % for waste transformer oil during 7 days incubation period. In order to get optimal degradation efficiency, a three level Box–Behnken design was employed to optimize the physical parameters namely pH, temperature and waste oil concentration. The results indicate that at temperature 36.4 °C, pH 7.3 and with 4.6 % (v/v) oil concentration, the percentage degradation of waste engine oil will be 57 % within 7 days. At this optimized condition, the experimental values (56.7 ± 0.25 %) are in a good agreement with the predicted values with a calculated R 2 to be 0.998 and significant correlation between biodegradation and emulsification activity (E 24 = 69.42 ± 0.32 %) of the culture broth toward engine oil was found with a correlation coefficient of 0.972. This is the first study showing that an Ochrobactrum sp. strain is capable of degrading waste lubricants, which might contribute to the bioremediation of waste lubricating oil-contaminated soil.

Engine characterization study of hydrocarbon fuel derived through recycling of waste transformer oil

This work intends to capitalize waste transformer oil (WTO) as a renewable source of fuel in a diesel engine, given the cost of fuel being used is reduced when using waste products. Previously, despite its higher viscosity, WTO is used as such or in blends with diesel in a diesel engine. However, in the current study, efforts are taken to chemically treat WTO so as to bring down its viscosity and make it conducive for diesel engine application. As such, WTO is pretreated with concentrated sulfuric acid and subjected to alkaline trans-esterification with an alcohol and alkali catalyst. Interestingly, the derived hydrocarbon fuel (HCF) discerned the presence of cyclo-hexenol and oxabycyclo-heptane as its major constituents, contrary to the exwastence of methyl esters as reported for other trans-esterified vegetable oils. Subsequently, HCF is utilized in a diesel engine by optimizing the combustion bowl geometry, considering that an engine modification is imperative to effectively operate high viscous fuel like derived HCF in a diesel engine. In this regard, three combustion bowl geometry shapes are preferred viz Piston 1 (shallow depth combustion chamber), Piston 2 (toroidal combustion chamber) and Piston 3 (hemispherical combustion chamber). In the pursuit of experimental investigation of B25 (HCF – 25% and diesel – 75%) and B100 (HCF – 100%), piston 2 showed enhanced engine performance and emission than the other two configurations. Notably, BTE for B25 with piston 2 is increased by 10.2%, while the emission such as HC, CO and smoke are reduced by 13.3%, 11.7% and 10.1%, respectively, than the conventional piston bowl geometry (piston 3) at the expense of increased NOX emission.

Dechlorination and decomposition of Aroclor 1242 in real waste transformer oil using a nucleophilic material with a modified domestic microwave oven

This research was done to assess the dechlorination and decomposition of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in real waste transformer oil through a modified domestic microwave oven (MDMW). The influence of microwave power (200–1000 W), reaction time (30–600 s), polyethylene glycol (PEG) (1.5–7.5 g), iron powder (0.3–1.5 g), NaOH (0.3–1.5 g), and H2O (0.4–2 ml) were investigated on the decomposition efficiency of PCBs existing in real waste transformer oil with MDMW. Obtained data indicate that PEG and NaOH have the greatest influence on decomposition of PCBs; while, iron did not influence, and H2O decreased, the decomposition efficiency of PCBs. Experimental data also indicated that with the optimum amount of variables through a central composites design method (PEG = 5.34 g, NaOH = 1.17 g, Fe = 0.6 g, H2O = 0.8 ml and microwave power 800 W), 78 % of PCBs was degraded at a reaction time of about 6 min. In addition, the PCBs decomposition without using water increased up to 100 % in the reactor with the MDMW at 6 min. Accordingly, results showed that MDMW was a very efficient factor for PCBs decomposition from waste transformer oil. Also, using microwave irradiation, availability and inexpensive materials (PEG, NaOH), and iron suggest this method as a fast, effective, and cheap method for PCB decomposition of waste oils.

Waste Transformer Oil as an Alternative Fuel for Diesel Engine

Abstract The current study investigates the suitability for using waste transformer oil (WTO) as an alternative fuel for compression ignition (CI) engine. For this purpose different properties of the WTO were determined. The different properties include density, kinematic viscosity, cetane number, calorific value, flash and fire points, fourier transform infra-red (FTIR). The investigation includes two parts. In the first part of the investigation, different properties and engine performance were conducted. In the latter part of the investigation WTO was refined by well know transesterification process and again different fuel properties and engine performance were conducted. In the text, the refined waste transformer oil is designated as RWTO. All fuel properties with WTO and RWTO were compared with those of conventional diesel fuel (DF). All properties were close to those of DF. FTIR results revealed that the WTO is a diesel like hydrocarbon. The engine performance with WTO and RWTO was much better than that of DF. Based on the findings, WTO and RWTO are suggested to be alternative fuels for CI engine.

Heterogeneous reductive dehalogenation of PCB contaminated transformer oil and brominated diphenyl ethers with zero valent iron

Reductive dechlorination and debromination of halogenated biphenyls (PCBs) and diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) occurs efficiently at moderately elevated temperatures (350–600°C) with zero valent iron (iron powder) in a nitrogen atmosphere. The proton donors tested were waste transformer oil, iso-octane, and n-decane. Observation of production of biphenyl and diphenyl ether and their condensation products indicates that the reaction is not simple pyrolysis, but a reduction. No halogenated organic products are observed.

Destruction and Removal of PCBs in Waste Transformer Oil by a Chemical Dechlorination Process

A practical and efficient disposal of PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) in waste transformer oil by a chemical dechlorination process has been reported. The transformer oil containing commercial PCB mixtures (Aroclor 1242, 1254 and 1260) was treated by the required amounts of PEG 600 (polyethylene glycol 600), potassium hydroxide (KOH) and aluminum (Al), along with different reaction temperatures and times. The reaction of PEG with PCBs under basic condition produces arylpolyglycols, the products of nucleophilic aromatic substitution. The relative efficiencies of PCB treatment process were assessed in terms of destruction and removal efficiency (DRE, %). Under the experimental conditions of PEG600/KOH/Al/100 o C/2hr, average DRE of PCBs was approximately 78%, showing completely removal of PCBs containing 7-9 chlorines on two rings of biphenyl which appear later than PCB no. 183 (2,2',3,4,4',5',6-heptaCB) in retention time of GC/ECD. However, when increasing the reaction temperature and time to 150 o C and 240 min, average DRE of PCBs including the most toxic PCBs (PCB no. 77, 105, 118, 123 and 169) in PCB family reached 99.99% or better, with the exception of PCB no. 5 and 8 (2,3-diCB and 2,4'-diCB). In studying the reaction of PEG with PCBs, it confirmed that the process led to less chlorinated PCBs through a stepwise process with the successive elimination of chlorines. The process also permits complete recovery of treated transformer oil through simple segregating procedures.

Mortality of power workers exposed to phenoxy herbicides and polychlorinated biphenyls in waste transformer oil.

Herbicide spray crews employed by a Canadian power company between 1950 and 1967 had a higher than expected death rate, with a standardized mortality ratio of 157% (CI 130%-194%). In 1991, the cohort consisted of 225 former sprayers of whom 127 were still alive and 98 had died. Eligibility for inclusion in the cohort was based on employer records; and a history of spraying for 30 days or more in at least one spray season. Deaths expected were based on age-specific population mortality rates for New Brunswick. The all-age SMR for the total cohort was 159%. After 1958, however, waste transformer oil was added to the phenoxy-herbicide spray mixture, the oil representing 10% of the final mixture. Spray crews wore no protective clothing. Subdividing the cohort into spray years 1950-1958 and 1959-1967 yielded SMRs of 146% (CI 115%-184%); and 215% (CI 139%-318%), respectively. The transformer oil was used during the period 1959-1967. Most excess deaths were due to cardiovascular disease.

Waste Transformer Oil and PCB Toxicity to Rainbow Trout

Young rainbow trout Salmo gairdneri (starting age, 17 d) were exposed to nominal concentrations of 0, 0.38, 0.75, 1.5, 3.0, and 6.0 μg/L total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) for 90 d, then held in fresh water for 60 d. Sources of PCBs were (1) waste transformer oil containing various hydrocarbons plus a 1:2 ratio of Aroclors 1254 and 1260, and (2) pure technical PCBs of the same Aroclor ratio as that in the transformer oil. Survival of fish was much lower in transformer oil than in technical PCBs at day 90. Growth was reduced at day 30 by the transformer oil, but not until day 90 at the highest concentration of technical PCBs. Fin erosion was severe and vertebra integrity was reduced in fish exposed to transformer oil but not in fish exposed to technical PCBs. Abnormal swimming behavior of fish exposed to transformer oil was attributed to reduced volume of the swim bladder. Exposures to transformer oil decreased hematocrit, and increased serum cortisol to twice that of controls and of fish exposed to technical PCBs. Exposure to either PCB source increased disease resistance of fish to flush (external) challenges of the bacterium Yersinia ruckeri, but intraperitoneal injection of Y. ruckeri caused faster mortality of fish exposed to transformer oil than of control fish or fish exposed to technical PCBs. All routes of disease exposure should be considered in contaminant-disease interactions. Disease susceptibility or any clinical endpoints measured were never more sensitive indicators of contaminant stress than those endpoints normally examined (growth and survival) in chronic toxicity studies. Because fish took up more PCBs from the technical solutions than from transformer oil, presumably due to petroleum hydrocarbons in transformer oil, environmental assessments of PCBs should include testing the form of the material that may enter the environment.