Mineral base oil recovery from waste lubricant grease

Abstract

Lubricants play an important role in the running of automotive and related machines. They prevent wear and tear of machines through the provision of a protective film between two moving parts. With time, the performance of grease is reduced creating a problem of waste lubricant grease. This research investigated the recovery of mineral base oil from waste lubricating grease obtained from the mining industry. A base was used to flocculate the impurities and temperature was applied to degrade the waste grease. A solvent was further used to separate and purify the sludge mixture generated. The investigation achieved recovery of base oil from the waste oil sourced from a mine. Other parameters which were determined included Calorific value, viscosity and water content. Recovery of valuable base oil indicated the prospects of volume reduction of waste grease at storage facilities and possibilities of blending with other oils to enhance their fuel capacities.