FEASIBILITY OF DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE USED LUBRICATING OIL RE-REFINING

Abstract : The Department of Defense (DOD) annually procures and uses a large amount of lubricating oil in its vehicle fleets. This results in a significant volume of used lubricating oil being generated at DOD installations. Characteristics of this used lubricating oil can lead to its consideration as a hazardous waste. While Federal regulations classifying used oil as a hazardous waste have not been promulgated, this is expected to change in late 1983 or early 1984. Several states have already classified used oil as a hazardous waste in advance of Federal action. One significant option for the disposal of used lubricating oil is recovery and re-refining to produce a product capable of meeting military specifications (mil specs) for lubricating oil. The objective of this study was to determine the feasibility of capture and re-refining of all DOD used lubricating oil. The quantities of virgin oil currently procured and the capture potential are examined as is the degree of technical sophistication available in the re-refining industry. A mathematical model involving the costs of transport and re-refining of used oil and backhauling the re-refined product was developed and exercised on the available data. Results indicate that capture and re-refining of DOD's used lubricating oil is feasible under selected conditions with the cost of transportation being a major factor. The re-refining industry has both the capacity and the technical sophistication to produce a re-refined oil capable of meeting military specifications.