Production of activated carbon from spent lubricating oils by chemical treatment

Abstract EN

In this work activated carbon of a good quality prepared from spent lubricating oils using oxidation condensation process.

The oxidation of the spent lubricating oils conducted using 2 % (wt %) of (CoCl2, ZnCl2 & FeCl3) and in the presence of a stream of air or oxygen.

The reaction mixture was heated at 350°C for (12, 24 & 36) hr, this followed by removal of uncarbonized materials under reduced pressure.

The carbonization and activation was conducted at 550±25°C for 3 hrs and the ratio of the feedstock to NaOH (1:2).

After the carbonization was completed, the reaction mixture was subjected to purification by treatment with distilled water, 10 % HCl and distilled water till it gives neutral test to litmus paper.

The samples were dried at 120°C for 24 hr and its physical properties were determined, the research work indicated that a good quality activated carbon was obtained when the oxidation of sample was conducted using 2 % FeCl3 for 36 hr.