New re-refining technologies of the western world

Rulings prohibiting dumping or storing in sludge pools of used motor lubricating oils and the dwindling oil reserves of the world have served to spur development of new technological processes for re-refining of used motor oil. Various re-refining processes developed in both Europe and the US are reviewed. The Recyclon Process developed in Switzerland in collaboration with a West German company consists of chemical treatment of the previously dried oil with a soldium emulsion followed by distillation recovery of the basic oils. A vacuum distillation technic for recovery has been developed by Kinetics Technology International (KTI) or Zoetermeer, the Netherlands. A propane precipitation technology developed at the Institut Francois de Petrole (IFP) is currently being used by at least two firms in Italy. IFP is now working on a membrane filtration treatment of the pretreated oil. A process recently developed by the Phillips Petroleum Co. called the PROP process includes chemical precipitation of contaminants, separation of oil and precipitate, removal of additional contaminants with clay, and hydrogenation to produce a good final product. Another process developed in the US by the Bartlesville Energy Research Center, the BERC Process, involves dehydration and production of a fuel cut in a staged distillation,more » solvent extraction to remove coking and fouling precursors, recovery of solvent, distillation of the feedstock, and either clay finishing or hydrofinishing. Advantages and disadvantages of all processes are noted. (BLM)« less