Title: Treatment Of Spent Lubricating Oil Using Sugarcane Bagasse
Authors: Mfon I. Otite-Douglas, Jonathan Favour Ozioma
Volume: 9
Issue: 2
Pages: 87-93
Publication Date: 2025/02/28
Abstract:
Recovery of used lubricating oil (ULO) generally comprises cleaning, drying, and adsorption to eliminate water, sludge, and impurities. This study investigates the effectiveness of treating used lubricating oil with sugarcane bagasse modified by sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide. The characterization results reveal significant changes in the properties of the lubricating oil before and after treatment. The density of the oil increased from 0.8785 g/cm³ (unused) to a range of 0.8888 g/cm³ to 0.8934 g/cm³ for treated samples, indicating a more concentrated product. In contrast, the flash point decreased from 220°C (unused) to 165°C (treated with 15g of bagasse), suggesting a reduced ability to resist ignition due to the Viscosity showed a notable decline from 196.23 cSt (unused) to 107.43 cSt (used), with treated samples gradually increasing to 108.27 cSt, indicating restoration of some lubricating properties. Moisture content rose sharply from 1.62% (unused) to 48.70% (used), but treatment effectively reduced it to 4.30% for the treated samples. Ash content also decreased from 0.0076% (used) to 0.0075% (treated), demonstrating the removal of inorganic residues. These findings suggest that the treatment process not only enhances the quality of used lubricating oil but also offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for oil purification and can be optimized to achieve the desired level of oil purification.