Utilization of Waste Lubricant Oil in Fuel Phase of ANFO Explosives: Its Field Applications and Environmental Impact

Abstract

Disposal of used lubricant oil in an ecosystem is a serious environmental threat. In this context, recycling waste lubricant oil into a valuable product has an immense commercial and environmental significance and is a challenging area of research. In this article, we have demonstrated the use of waste lubricant oil as a partial replacement of diesel oil of ammonium nitrate fuel oil (ANFO) explosives. Moreover, the effect on detonation properties and rock fragmentation patterns by the use of lubricant oil based ANFO in blasting operation has also been studied. The field trial experiments were carried out with lubricant oil based ANFO explosive to demonstrate the real applic-ability of the prepared explosive composition at Nimbeti Limestone open-pit mine of Shree Cement Limited, India. These explosive compositions revealed effective detonation performance. Importantly, air quality was analyzed during blasting operations to indicate that the emitted toxic fumes such as CO, NO x, and fine dust particles (PM 2.5 & PM 10 ) were found within the permissible limit at the mining area by the use of lubricant oil based explosives. Further, rock fragmentation analysis indicated that ANFO explosive compositions with 20 %, 30 %, and 40 % (w/w) lubricant oil in diesel oil revealed good rock fragmentation as compared with normal ANFO in the conducted experimental blast.

Interpol review of the analysis and detection of explosives and explosives residues

“…Ali, F., et al report on using waste lubricant oil as a partial substitute for fuel oil in ANFO formulations. They found that the formulations exhibited both effective explosive performance and were within the permissible limit for toxic fumes and particulate formation [ 78 ].…”

Effects of biodiesel on thermal safety and detonation characteristics of emulsion explosive**

“…The results of the laser particle-size analysis and related calculations for the samples are shown in Table 3, where D [3,2] and D [4,3] are the Sauter mean diameter and volume average particle size, respectively, and ΔD is the relative difference between D [3,2] and D [4,3]. The smaller ΔD implies the more regular shape and narrower size distribution of the sample particles.…”

“…However, the increasing price of these petroleum products, caused by the situation of tight supply and high demand in the global oil market, has been severely confined the usage of these non-renewable petroleum products in recent years. Therefore, exploring Symbols and Abbreviations: D [3,2], Sauter mean diameter, μm; D [4,3], volume average particle size, μm; PDI, polymer dispersion index; β, heating rate, °C; A, pre-exponential factor, s À 1 ; A k , pre-exponential factor calculated by Kissinger method, s À 1 ; A s , pre-exponential factor calculated calculated by Šatava-Šesták method, s À 1 ; R, molar gas constant, 8.314 J mol À 1 K À 1 ; α, reaction fraction; G(α), Integral form of reaction mechanism function; T, temperature of the corresponding α, K; T p , peak temperature, K; E a , activation energy, kJ mol À 1 ; E o , activation energy calculated by Ozawa method, kJ mol À 1 ; E k , activation energy calculated by Kissinger method, kJ mol À 1 ; E s , activation energy calculated by Šatava-Šesták method, kJ mol À 1 ; a, particle size, μm; C a , solubility of the internal material in the particle with particle size; V m , molar volume of the internal material; VoD, velocity of detonation, m s À 1 ; R 0 , compression ratio compared with the original length; R e , compression ratio compared with the length after experiment; Δh, compression amount of lead column, mm; h 0 , original length, mm renewable alternatives to traditional oil phase materials has become an emerging research field, which is meaningful to the mining and allied industrial [4]. Many substances have been used in oil phase materials of explosives, thereinto, biofuel as a renewable and clean energy has received much attention.…”

“…However, the increasing price of these petroleum products, caused by the situation of tight supply and high demand in the global oil market, has been severely confined the usage of these non‐renewable petroleum products in recent years. Therefore, exploring renewable alternatives to traditional oil phase materials has become an emerging research field, which is meaningful to the mining and allied industrial [4]. Many substances have been used in oil phase materials of explosives, thereinto, biofuel as a renewable and clean energy has received much attention.…”

Thermal decomposition characteristics and compatibility analysis of pulverized coal‐doped ammonium nitrate fuel oil (PCANFO) explosive by microcalorimeter

“…The findings indicated that the addition of activated carbon to powdered AN resulted in increased sensitivity and detonation velocity. F. Ali [8] et al. used lubricating oil as a partial substitute for ANFO explosive diesel and carried out field experiments showing that ANFO explosive compositions with 20 %, 30 % and 40 % (w/w) lubricating oil in the diesel showed better rock crushing.…”