Statistical Model for Re-refining of used lubricating oil by Solvent

Extraction and Bentonite Clay adsorption Method

1
Ali Ghufran Khudhur, 2 Zakariya Ibrahim Mohammed
1,2
North Gas Company, Ministry of Oil-Iraq
1
ali.ghufran1992@gmail.com
Abstract
Lubricating oils are widely using for reducing friction and wear by interposing a film of
material between rubbing surfaces, but these oils lose their properties after a certain period of
use. For protection from environmental pollution and economic side, used oil can recycling
and purifying by various method.
Solvent extraction + clay adsorption technique is one of the cheapest, competitive and most
efficient processes experienced in recycling of used lubricating oils. After vacuum filtration of
the oil is distilled by vacuum distillation and extracted by Methyl Ethyl ketone as a solvent.
Bentonite clay (400 gm) are activated by mixing (100 ml) diluted sulfuric acid under 100 oC
for 4 hours. The Extracted oil are treated by activated clay (Clay/Extracted oil =%15 wt) at
(120oC) with mixing speed (500 rpm) for 90 minutes.

However, the capability of this process largely depending on optimum condition of each
parameter in recycling process. For this purpose, the experiments of three variables
(Temperature, mixing speed, extracted solvent/ oil ratio) at three levels for extraction process
are designed by Design Expert software. Optimum condition for extracted process is (Solvent
/used oil=3, Temperature =58 oC, mixing speed =710 rpm) confirmed by ANOVA. The
recovered oil with 72% yield is analyzed in laboratory, found it very close to base oil
specifications.

Keywords: Response surface methodology (RSM), Re-refining used oil, Solvent extraction,
Clay adsorption.