OPTIMIZATION OF SOLVENT EXTRACTION IN USED LUBRICATING OIL RE-REFINING USING RESPONSE SURFACE METHODOLOGY
Authors: *Osemwengie S.O, Ossai J.E, Otokpen O.R
DOI Info: N/A
ABSTRACT
Response surface methodology was used to optimize the process parameters and response factors in the refining of used lubricating oil using solvent extraction process. The solvent used for the treatment process was 1-butanol. The response variables optimized were base oil yield and total acid number. It was established that using 1-butanol as the solvent for the extraction process, the optimal response was a yield of 66% and a total acid number of 1.4 mg KOH/g oil. The optimum process parameters were determined to be at 253 rpm mixing speed, 3:1 solvent to oil ratio and 30 oC extraction temperature. A mathematical model was obtained for the response variables, percentage oil yield (Y1) and acid number (Y2). From the analysis of variance, the quadratic model generated for the response variables were significant with f-values of 80.89 and 557.28, respectively. The properties of the extracted oil at the optimum process conditions was compared with the used lubricating oil and it was inferred that the use of solvent extraction helped improve the properties of the base oil by separating it from its contaminants.
Affiliations: Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria
Keywords: Used Lubricating Oil, Solvent Extraction, Box-Behnken Design, Response Surface Methodology, Optimization
Published date: 2017/12/29
