Applicability of Waste Engine Oil for the Direct Production of Electricity

Abstract

New methods for the use of waste products as input for other technologies are a constant subject of research efforts. One such product is waste engine oil. Due to the constantly increasing number of motor vehicles in the world, the recycling or application of engine oils for energy production purposes is currently of considerable importance. This paper contains research regarding the analysis of the electro-oxidation potential of waste engine oil, and thus the possibility of using such oil as a material in fuel cells. The research demonstrates the basic possibility of the electro-oxidation of this oil emulsion on a platinum electrode in an acid electrolyte (aqueous solution of H2SO4). It was shown that in the temperature range of 20–80 °C, the electro-oxidation of the waste engine oil emulsion occurred for all emulsion concentrations (0.005%, 0.010%, 0.030%, and 0.060% of the reactor volume). The maximum current density obtained in the measurements was 21 mA·cm−2 at the temperature of 60 °C (0.030% waste oil and 0.5 M electrolyte). Although this value is small, it encourages further research on the use of used engine oil for the direct generation of electricity.

Feasibility of Waste Engine Oil Electrooxidation with Ni-Co and Cu-B Catalysts

“…Therefore, this research made it possible for us to determine the boundary temperature of use of the WEO as a fuel with the use of Ni-Co and Cu-B catalysts (in an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid used as the electrolyte). It should be noted that this situation was similar to the measurement results obtained using a platinum catalyst [32].…”

“…It should be noted that the values of the current densities were slightly lower than the current densities obtained under the same conditions using the platinum catalyst (about half) [32]. These were values regarding those related to the dimensions of the electrodes.…”

“…This situation occurred due to the fact that the measurement results were not related to the real physical electrode surface but its dimensions, as noted beforehand. The measurements on the platinum electrode were carried out on a smooth surface electrode (with a Pt catalyst) whereas the measurements with the use of the Ni-Co and Cu-B catalysts were carried out on a foam copper electrode with a deposited catalyst [32]. The surface was defined as the visible surface (resulting from the dimensions).…”

“…The feasibility of WEO utilization by electrooxidation was demonstrated in our previous work [32]. However, the previous work involved the research of electrooxidation on a platinum electrode.…”