Used Oil Recycling Process: Main Steps, Benefits & Challenges

Used oil is, by definition, any petroleum-based or synthetic oil that has already served its intended use inside the engine of machinery or other industrial processes. In due time, this gathers impurities such as dirt, metal fragments, water, and even chemicals that degrade its performance. Once the oil becomes contaminated, it can no longer perform its function with efficacy and therefore must be replaced. Improperly disposed of used oil poses a great risk to the environment in the form of possible contamination of soil and water sources.

However, there is a much greater advantage to recycling it. The environment is safeguarded, as well as beneficial resources being saved. In fact, an estimated 380 million gallons of used oil are recycled yearly in the U.S., representing the importance of recycling for waste reduction and energy conservation.

Used Oil Recycling Process: 6 Steps for Effective Recovery

The recycling process is intended for the recovery of oil through the removal of impurities with the ultimate goal of creating a product that could be reused or repurposed. There are several phases involved in this process, and each plays an important role in ensuring that the oil is recycled not only effectively but safely.

1. Collection & Aggregation

Collection is the initial step involved in the Used Oil Recycling Process. Oil waste emanates from many industries, garages belonging to motor vehicle repairs, and even from households. The used oil is allowed to collect in containers or tanks and awaits transportation to a recycling facility. Many countries have legislation on the handling and storage of used oil in special containers simply because even small quantities can spill and leak into the environment, causing contamination of large volumes of water.

Facilities that can handle such tasks include recycling centers, local drop-off points, and industrial facilities; all these help in the safe collection of used oil. According to the EPA, recycling centers, local drop-off points, and industrial facilities all help in making sure used oil is collected properly and safely.

2. Filtration & Dehydration

The used oil is first filtered after collection to remove large contaminants. Such large contaminants could include dirt, metal shavings, and other forms of debris that it picked up while in use. After filtration, the oil undergoes dehydration to get rid of any water content. Water contamination during the service life of the oil can occur by condensation or due to exposure to moisture, and this must be eliminated before further processing of the oil can take place.

Dehydration ensures that the remaining oil is ready for more advanced steps in purification. This is a critical step of Used Oil Recycling Process because if water and big-sized particles are not removed early enough, they will affect the efficiency of the later refining steps.

3. Distillation

The second most important process is distillation, in which the used oil is heated to separate the various components. It undergoes a similar refining process to that of crude oil. In this process of distillation, the temperature must be such that lighter components would vaporize and then condense into different fractions.

This would then serve to segregate the base oil stock from other by-products such as fuel oils or asphalt. It ensures through the process of distillation that the oil gets broken down into its components, and with that, each fraction has specific uses. The base oil can still re-enter lubricants by further processing.

4. Hydrotreating or Clay Treatment

Succeeding distillation, the oil undergoes treatment to remove its chemical impurities such as sulfur, nitrogen, and oxygen. In that order, two methods exist: hydrotreating and clay treatment. The hydrotreating process involves chemical removal of impurities from the oil using hydrogen gas and a catalyst.

The other process, clay treatment, involves the use of special absorbent materials to filter out impurities. Both processes do a similar job: cleaning up the product. At this stage of Used Oil Recycling Process, the re-refined oil reaches as near virgin oil quality as possible. Both methods result in quality base stocks that can be blended with additives to produce lubricating oils.

5. Re-Refinement to Base Oil

Re-refinement following hydrotreating or clay treatment is the final step of Used Oil Recycling Process. The base oil produced by distillation and purification is tested and typically blended with performance additives to achieve a desired industry specification. This is because this step is vital in giving the oil back its virgin characteristics, hence comparing well with virgin oil both in performance and shelf life.

The re-refined oil can thereafter be put into service in various areas, from automotive lubricants to industrial machinery oils. Still importantly, re-refined oil also compares or even surpasses newly refined oil performance standards, thereby proving that it can be trustable in heavy applications.

6. Repurposing as Fuel

Some used oil, aside from being recycled, can be used again as a source of alternative fuel. Many huge industrial installations such as power plants, cement kilns, and industrial boilers employ used oil as a burning material to generate heat and energy. This also serves a dual purpose: it lessens the consumption of fossil fuel and gives a practical alternative route of disposition for those used oil that is not worthy of re-refining. Special space heaters also utilize small amounts of used oil for heating.

Thus, space heaters can reclaim oil in relatively small and local applications. Burning used oil in these controlled environments reduces waste and extends the lifecycle of the oil.

 

Benefits of the Used Oil Recycling Process

Used oil recycling has tremendous benefits beyond just stopping pollution: it provides great environmental protection, energy conservation, economic savings, and resource management.

Environmental Protection

One of the immediate benefits of Used Oil Recycling is environmental protection. Keeping used oil off landfills and away from water sources minimizes the risk of soil and water contamination. Even small amounts of oil disposed of improperly have disastrous effects on ecosystems; therefore, recycling plays a very critical role in maintaining a healthy environment.

Energy Conservation

Recycling reuses a lot of energy compared to the production of new oil from crude petroleum. In the Used Oil Recycling Process, it takes a lesser amount of energy and resources that help businesses and industries bring down energy consumption. Every gallon of the used oil recycled offsets the need to extract new oil, contributing to an energy-efficient economy.

Economic Savings

For businesses, recycling used oil can have a real payback in dollars and cents. Savings on energy consumption, reduced usage of raw materials, and avoidance of penalties under regulations that ban improper disposal add directly to a company’s profit margin. Also, businesses that recycle their oil avoid potential “cradle-to-grave” liabilities associated with hazardous waste management.

Resource Conservation

Finally, recycling used oil helps conserve natural resources. For example, by reducing the demand for virgin oil, a derivative of crude oil extracted and refined from the earth, we are reserving this limited resource for future generations.

Challenges & the Future of Used Oil Recycling

As efficient and effective for the environment, the Used Oil Recycling Process has its challenges in two important areas: public awareness and innovation.

Public Awareness & Education

One of the biggest barriers to used oil recycling is a total lack of awareness on the part of the public. Either most consumers and businesses are unaware of just how easy it is to recycle used oil, and the benefits involved in doing so, or it is too hard. Increased efforts toward the education of the public could go a long way toward increasing recycling rates.

Technological Advances

The future of used oil recycling seems bright as its development is unending to bring improvement in efficiency and environmental outcomes. In every new refining or purification technique to be developed, the process will become more sustainable as further reduction in the level of generated waste and full resource recovery can be achieved.

Government & Regulatory Support

In the end, strong regulatory frameworks and government incentives may give a fillip to the industry. While many governments have enacted legislation requiring businesses to recycle used oil, other forms of support might include tax incentives or grants to companies making investments in technologies that facilitate recycling.

 

Conclusion

Used oil recycling is a potent means of managing waste while preserving precious resources. By re-manufacturing the used oil into a reusable product or by reusing it as fuel, one can conserve the environment and energy, and reduce dependency on virgin oil extraction. With the right blend of public awareness, innovation, and regulatory support, the future of used oil recycling looks brilliant, and its contribution towards sustainability will only increase. If you need extra information about Used Oil Recycling, please visit Invexoil Services or study our professional Blogs.