REVIEW NOTICE

The National Environmental Research Center Cincinnati has reviewed this report and approved its publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.

Man and his environment must be protected from the adverse effects of pesticides, radiation, noise and other forms of pollution, and the unwise management of solid waste. Efforts to protect the environment require a focus that recognizes the interplay between the components of our physical environment-air, water, and land. The National Environmental Research Centers provide this multidisciplinary focus through programs engaged in studies on the effects of environmental contaminants on man and the biosphere, and

• a search for ways to prevent contamination
and to recycle valuable resources.

Little quantitative information has been available on the ultimate fate of waste oil generated from the 2.2. billion gallons of lubricating and industrial oils used annually in the United States. In this study information has been developed on sources and quantities of waste oils, current and potential recycle and disposal methods, and the environmental impact of these methods.

A. W. Breidenbach, Ph.D.
Director

National Environmental
Research Center, Cincinnati

ABSTRACT

Little quantitative information has been available as to the ultimate disposal of the 2.2 billion gallons per year of lubricating and industrial oils used in the U. S.; or of additional waste oils resulting from production, transportation, refining, and use of petroleum and its products. About 100 million gallons per year is known to be recycled by the re-refining industry, producing lubricating oils; and other oil is used as fuel, road oil, and a variety of other applications. Each of these applications, including re-refining, has substantial negative impacts on the environment. In this study, information has been developed on sources and quantities of waste oils, current and potential recycle and disposal methods, and the environmental impact of these methods.

Several surveys were conducted to aid in the development of the desired information. These included:

1.

2.

3.

4.

Visits to 30 re-refiners and waste oil processors, primarily
to obtain technical information.

A waste oil survey of the Pittsburgh area, including inter-
views with 83 service stations, various industrial organi-
zations, waste oil collectors and processors, and others.

A nationwide telephone survey of 92 collectors and processors
of waste oil.

A combined telephone and visit survey of organizations in 57
Standard Industrial Classification major groups.

Other data were obtained through an extensive literature search, and by actual sampling of wastewaters in two waste oil processing plants.

An estimated 2.5 billion gallons per year of all types of waste oils are generated. The majority of these ultimately find their to the environment or are used as fuel. A relatively small quantity is re-refined to lubricating oils.

Acid/clay treatment, the most commonly used re-refining process for waste lubricating oils, is not an attractive approach for expanding the re-refining industry, because of its high cost and because of undesirable waste products produced (acid sludge, spent clay). More attractive processes are available, but further development work is required.

Use of vehicular waste oils for fuel, road oiling, and dust control, currently major uses, is unsound from the points of view of resource and environment conservation. During combustion, very fine lead particles are emitted to the atmosphere. Waste oils generally make poor road oils, resulting in rapid loss of oil to the surrounding land and waters.

Much industrial waste oil is being recovered and reused internally and externally, including considerable fuel usage, but an uncomfortable quantity is being indiscriminately disposed of in road oiling, dust control, dumps, and landfills. The disposal of oily flocs and sludges from wastewater treatment is a major industrial problem.

Recommendations are made to encourage the expansion of a technically and environmentally sound oil recycling industry, including licensing of collectors and processors, and a research and development program.

This report was submitted in fulfillment of Contract Nos. 68-01-1870 and 68-03-0394 by Recon Systems, Inc. and Response Analysis Corporation under the sponsorship of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.