V.I.M.

WASTE OIL REFINERIES

Summary (Same as Guidelines. Page. 313)
1. Introduction
Waste oil refineries (WOR) are listed in Annex C of the Stockholm
Convention as potential sources of chemicals listed in Annex C. The
information reported about WOR as source of PCDD/PCDF is very
limited and need to be more researched.
2. Waste oils
Is any used petroleum based or synthetic oil. Water, chemicals, metal
particles and dirt are mixed in with the oil, until the proprieties of it are
degraded and must be replaced by new oil.
New oils are a mixture of a based oil (mineral or synthetic) and
additives (15% - 25%). The type of base oil and determine the
possibility of regeneration oil and possible formation of PCDD/PCDF in
WOR.
3. Occurrence of PCDD/PCDF in used oils
Hagen Maier and Brunner analyzed new and used (after 10.000 km in
cars fueled with leaded gasoline) motor oils. At a limit of quantification
of 0,05 g/kg per congener, no PCDD/PCDF could be detected in fresh
and used motor oils. However, higher chlorinated PCDD/PCDF were
detected in recycled oils, probably from used ones contaminated with
pentachlorophenol and its sodium salt, with in Europe were used in the
mineral oil industry. It must be noted that some of the additives used in
modern lubricant oils contain chlorinated compounds and it is necessary
to continue monitoring waste oils feed to WOR.
4. Waste oil refineries (WOR)
WOR are designed to produce a base blending oil, some by products
and some wastes. The lighter parts of the by products may be used as

fuel, the heaviest, containing additives and carbonaceous species, may

be used as a blending component in road surfaces.
In Europe, three technologies are representative of WOR.
4.1.1 Vacuum distillation + clay treatment
Water and
Light hidrocarbons

Pretreatment

H2 SO4

clay4 + lime

Acidification

Filtration

light oil

Destillation

Base

oil
Acidic and
Oily waste

Acid oil
and clay

4.2.1 Vacuum distillation + chemical treatment

Water and
Light hidrocarbons

Pretreatment

light components

Vacuum distillation

oil

H2

Chemical
treatment

Base

Heavy components

4.3.

Hydrogen pre treatment + vacuum distillation

Water and
Light hidrocarbons

Pretreatment

oil

H2

Chemical treatment

light components

Vaccum distillation

Base

Heavy components

5. Measures for reduction of occurrence of PCDD/PCDF.

As indicated before, PCDD/PCDF in oil base or residue from WOR
come from contaminated waste oils. So, one basic measure to reduce
PCDD/PCDF in WOR is to treat waste oils with low PCDD/PCDF
concentration.
The GEIR (Groupement Europeen de I Industrie de la Regeneration)
recommend to prefer for regeneration.
Engine oils with out chlorine
Hydraulic oils with out chlorine
Non chlorinated mineral diathermic oils.
6. Conclusion
Waste oils have been found to be contaminated with PCDD, PCDF and
PCB.
At present there is no available evidence that PCDD, PCDF and PCB
are newly formed in WOR.
WOR are a distribution source of chemicals listed in Annex C rather
than a formation source.
The waste oil treated in WOR must have a low content of PCDB,
PCDF, PCB and chlorinated additives.
7. Reference
Fiedler, H. Waste Oil Refineries. Information Document prepared for
3er Session of the Expert Group on BAT/BET. UNEP Chemicals.
Geneva 2005.
Ruiz E. Aceites lubricantes para motores a gasolina
Material del Curso de Educacin continuada Fundamentos
bsicos de lubricantes. Bogot 1991.