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Introduction
1.1 Background
Lubricating oils or lube oil, as they are commonly called, are viscous liquids used
to lubricate moving parts of machineries. Lube oils are mainly a blend of base oil
and a number of chemical additives, giving products that last longer and allow the
machinery to work better under severe operating conditions. Lube oils are used to
protect rubbing surfaces from friction, wear and excessive heating. They also
During usage the performance of lube oil deteriorates over time. This is due to the
contamination of the lube oil with various foreign matters and the degradation of
2010). However, after about 5,000 kilometers of engine use, the oil can no longer
provide desired functions expected of it. Hence, it is discarded as used engine oil
Used engine oil is known to have adverse impacts on both human health and
harmful to human health and the environment than virgin base oils (Irwin 1978)
The used oil from one oil change can contaminate 1 million gallons of fresh
water—a years’ supply for 50 people (US EPA, Used Oil Management Program).
For mammals and birds, harmful impacts include toxic contamination, destruction
of food resources and habitats and impaired reproductive capability. Report has
shown that used oils contain more metals and heavy polycyclic aromatic
as compared with the fresh oil. Lead (Pb) and Cadmium (Cd) are pollutants
associated with high blood levels in Children, anthralgia, colic and other human
The main sources of used oils in Nigeria was categorized as; transportation,
industry and private electricity generation (Bamiro & Osibanjo, 2004). In Nigeria
the estimated used crankcase oil was 150 million liters per annum and industry-
based used oil was estimated at 50 million liters, leading to a total national oil
generating capacity of 200 million liters per annum (Bamiro & Osibanjo, 2004).
With this figure, efficient technology options for handling, treating and disposing
2004). Common disposal methods of used oil by auto technician and allied artesian
include disposal into gutters, and indiscriminate dumping on land and waterways.
Some generators store it in plastic containers like kegs, jerry cans and drums,
where they are left until use was found for them or they were eventually sold to
dealers or direct users. Uses include direct reuse as; lubricants in old and worn
engines, weed killer to control weeds, dust control, wood preservation, rust
furnaces to generate heat for boilers, cement kilns, bakery oven, etc. These
primitive methods give rise to toxic air emissions that exacerbate air pollution
problems.
Used engine oil re-refining is a process that uses conventional refining steps to
recover new oil from the used oil by removing water, dirt, heavy metal, and
and chemical treatment aimed at recovering the properties of the base oil. In
Nigeria, there has been several studies on the need for used engine oil re-refining,
and significant efforts have been made by both the public and private sector in
project is the technological backup of the processes. Hence, the need for reliable
information on the various technology options for the re-refining of used engine oil
becomes necessary.