Purifying Used Oil Patents (Class 208/179)
  • Patent number: 7232935
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a hydrocarbon component of biological origin. The process comprises at least two steps, the first one of which is a HDO step and the second one is an isomerization step operated using the counter-current flow principle. A biological raw material containing fatty acids and/or fatty acid esters serves as the feed stock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Assignee: Fortum OYJ
    Inventors: Juha Jakkula, Vesa Niemi, Jouko Nikkonen, Veli-Matti Purola, Jukka Myllyoja, Pekka Aalto, Juha Lehtonen, Ville Alopaeus
  • Patent number: 7226533
    Abstract: A process to re-refine used petroleum oils by extraction with aliphatic solvents, wherein after eliminating the extract solvent, the process consists of the following treatments, (a) flash, continuous vaporization, at atmospheric pressure or near atmospheric pressure, to separate the light fractions, in the presence of small amounts of a basic compound or a reducing agent or a combination of both and (b) continuous distillation, in a fractionating column, of the bottom liquid obtained in stage (a), under vacuum and moderate temperatures, in the presence of a basic compound or a reducing compound or a combination of both, with recirculation from the bottom of the column to its feed; separating, as lateral extractions, the vacuum gas-oil or spindle oil and the lubricant bases and, as bottom product, a fuel-oil or asphaltic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Sener Grupo De Ingenieria, S.A.
    Inventor: Jerónimo Angulo Aramburu
  • Patent number: 7208079
    Abstract: A process for the treatment of waste oil comprises the steps of (a) supplying a stream of the waste oil to a dehydrator to dehydrate the waste oil and obtain a stream of dehydrated waste oil; (b) supplying the stream of dehydrated waste oil to a fractionated distillation column having a lower tray, an upper tray and a middle tray therebetween, wherein the lower tray is operated at a temperature of 370 to 390° C. under a sub-atmospheric pressure of 50 to 100 mmHg, the middle tray is operated at a temperature of 265 to 280° C. under a sub-atmospheric pressure of 35 to 45 mmHg and the upper tray is operated at a temperature of 100 to 110° C. under a sub-atmospheric pressure of 30 to 40 mmHg; (c) withdrawing from the distillation column a bottom product comprising a bituminous material; (d) withdrawing a first side stream from the distillation column between the first and second trays, the first side stream comprising a heavy oil having a viscosity of 130 to 180 cSt at 40° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Inventor: Nouredine Fakhri
  • Patent number: 7150822
    Abstract: A process for heating thermally unstable or difficult to heat liquid feeds, e.g., used lubricating oil (ULO) to dehydrate and/or recover distillable components therefrom, is disclosed. The liquid feed is heated by direct contact heat exchange with molten metal, preferably maintained as a bath, operating at a temperature above the boiling point of water and below 600 C. The liquid feed is heated and typically at least partially vaporized in, or above, or by contact with the molten metal to produce a heated liquid. When ULO contaminated with water is the feed, the vapor product of the process will comprise water vapor and/or distillable hydrocarbons. ULO additive decomposition products, such as carbon, may be removed as a solid, semi-solid or liquid residual phase from contact with the molten metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: DTX Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Donald P. Malone
  • Patent number: 6929737
    Abstract: In a method of removing acidic compounds, color, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and for removing or converting hydrocarbons containing heteroatoms from petroleum distillates, phase transfer catalyst is employed to facilitate the transfer of inorganic or organic bases to the substrate of the distillate. An inorganic or organic base, a phase transfer catalyst selected from the group including quaternary ammonium salts, polyol ethers and crown ethers, and used oil distillate are mixed and heated. Thereafter, contaminants are removed from the used oil distillate through distillation. A solvent is then mixed with the resulting distillate to extract contaminants therefrom. The solvent is recovered and distilled to separate the contaminants therefrom, and is then reused. The petroleum distillate having the contaminants separated therefrom is also distilled to remove any remaining solvent therefrom, with the recovered solvent being reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Assignee: Miami University
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Sherman, Richard T. Taylor, Amanda L. Hofacker, James W. Hershberger, Garrett M. Conn, William A. Gorman
  • Patent number: 6821413
    Abstract: A method for the continuous process of fluids is based on mixing the fluid with a supercritical fluid. The mixing of the two fluids may be accomplished using either a co-flow or counter-flow process. The process focuses on the difference in the solubilities of the desired and the undesired components into supercritical fluid and de-emphasizes the influence of the contaminating components of the fluid to be processed. The process of the present invention is particularly advantageous to the recycling of industrial waste fluids, such as used oil, wherein the process is carried out by jet spray micro-orifices atomization of waste material with a supercritical fluid to dissolve oil from the waste material. Additional mixing devices such as a magneto driven impeller shaft and ultrasonic gun may be employed. Thereafter, un-dissolved components are separated, first and the dissolved fluid is then separated from the supercritical fluid. Various apparatus for carrying out the method are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2004
    Assignee: FluidPhase Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Abdulhaq E. Alkhalidl
  • Publication number: 20040173505
    Abstract: A process for the treatment of waste oil comprises the steps of (a) supplying a stream of the waste oil to a dehydrator to dehydrate the waste oil and obtain a stream of dehydrated waste oil; (b) supplying the stream of dehydrated waste oil to a fractionated distillation column having a lower tray, an upper tray and a middle tray therebetween, wherein the lower tray is operated at a temperature of 370 to 390° C. under a sub-atmospheric pressure of 50 to 100 mmHg, the middle tray is operated at a temperature of 265 to 280° C. under a sub-atmospheric pressure of 35 to 45 mmHg and the upper tray is operated at a temperature of 100 to 110° C. under a sub-atmospheric pressure of 30 to 40 mmHg; (c) withdrawing from the distillation column a bottom product comprising a bituminous material; (d) withdrawing a first side stream from the distillation column between the first and second trays, the first side stream comprising a heavy oil having a viscosity of 130 to 180 cSt at 40° C.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2003
    Publication date: September 9, 2004
    Inventor: Nouredine Fakhri
  • Publication number: 20040089321
    Abstract: A process for cleaning a material with a cleaning system having system apparatus and at least one electronic device associated with the system apparatus, the at least one electronic device having a specified temperature operation range, the system having contacting apparatus, the process including contacting a material with an extracting fluid under conditions of temperature and pressure sufficient to maintain the extracting fluid at, near or above its critical point to produce a clean material, flowing the extracting fluid from the contacting apparatus to pressure reducing apparatus to lower pressure of the extracting fluid, lowering the pressure of the extracting fluid with the pressure reducing apparatus, thereby cooling the extracting fluid producing cooled extracting fluid, and flowing the cooled extracting fluid in heat exchange relation with the at least one electronic device to maintain temperature of the at least one electronic device within the specified temperature operation range; and a system for
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2002
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventor: Lyndon Ray Stone
  • Patent number: 6729145
    Abstract: A process plant (1) for handling combustibles fluids, for example an oil production plant in which gaseous hydrocarbons are separated from oil and in which surplus gases or residual gases from uncontrolled build-ups of gas pressure in the process escape through process or safety valves in the plant and are conducted to a collection line (9). The surplus or residual gases are conducted via the collection line (9) to one or more low-pressure stores (2) and a connection line or return line (11, 3) is arranged from the store(s) (2) to the process or another treatment unit for processing the returned or collected fluid. The low-pressure store(s) can expediently comprise the crude oil or raw product store (2) of the process plant upstream of the process plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2004
    Assignee: Norsk Hydro ASA
    Inventors: Sverre Johannesen Overå, Per Salater
  • Patent number: 6712954
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for reprocessing waste oils and producing high-grade base oils, whereby waste oil is treated by means of distillation, thin-film evaporation in a high vacuum, optional fractionation for separation into layers of different viscosities and subsequent extraction with N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone and/or N-formylmorpholine. The invention also relates to base oils that can be obtained by said method and to the use thereof. The inventive method is characterized in that approximately any waste oil can be used, including waste oils with polychlorinated biphenylene (PCB) or PCB substitutes with contents of up to 250 mg/kg. Furthermore, waste oils containing up to 5% vegetable oil can be present in the waste oil that is to be reprocessed without impairing the quality of the base oil. The undesirable constituents, especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenylenes (PCB) or the substitutes thereof are removed in an almost quantitative manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Mineralöl-Raffinerie Dollbergen GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Pöhler, Michael Mödler, Detlev Bruhnke, Holger Hindenberg
  • Publication number: 20040011704
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reclaiming a useful oil product, from waste oil provides an evaporation chamber in which waste oil is heated and vaporized, preferably at a temperature which causes some cracking of the oil. Hydrogen is injected into the vaporized oil, so to cause saturation of at least some of the olefins in the vaporized oil. The vaporized oil is then condensed and recovered as a useful oil product. The apparatus operates at substantially atmospheric pressure, or a pressure only slightly above atmospheric pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2003
    Publication date: January 22, 2004
    Inventor: Edward Carlton Shurtleff
  • Publication number: 20040007499
    Abstract: A process to re-refine used petroleum oils by extraction with aliphatic solvents, wherein after eliminating the extract solvent, the process consists of the following treatments, (a) flash, continuous vaporization, at atmospheric pressure or near atmospheric pressure, to separate the light fractions, in the presence of small amounts of a basic compound or a reducing agent or a combination of both and (b) continuous distillation, in a fractionating column, of the bottom liquid obtained in stage (a), under vacuum and moderate temperatures, in the presence of a basic compound or a reducing compound or a combination of both, with recirculation from the bottom of the column to its feed; separating, as lateral extractions, the vacuum gas-oil or spindle oil and the lubricant bases and, as bottom product, a fuel-oil or asphaltic component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2002
    Publication date: January 15, 2004
    Inventor: Jeronimo Angulo Aramburu
  • Patent number: 6589417
    Abstract: Used oil is treated in a reactor to remove contaminants. The reactor comprises a rotating vessel housed within a heating chamber. The inside of the vessel is indirectly heated by conduction through the vessel walls. The vessel contains a permanently resident charge of non-ablating, coarse granular solids. Within the vessel, the oil is vaporized and pyrolyzed, producing a hydrocarbon vapor. Coke is formed as a byproduct. Contaminants, such as metals and halides become associated with the coke. The coarse granular solids scour and comminute the coke to form fine solids. The fine solids are separated from the coarse solids and are removed from the vessel. The hydrocarbon vapors are separated from any fine solids and are routed to a vapor condensation system for producing a substantially contaminant-free product oil. The contaminant-rich solids are collected for disposal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Alberta Oil Sands Tech and Research Authority
    Inventors: William Taciuk, Steve Odut, Gordon Taciuk, Charlie Wheeler
  • Publication number: 20020185453
    Abstract: The present invention provides a filter apparatus for use in removing impurities and acids contained in a fluid that includes a particulate filter and an acid-neutralizing filter. The particulate filter and the acid-neutralizing filter may be positioned within separate housings or they may be positioned within a common housing. The acid-neutralizing filter contains an acid-neutralizing compound such as crushed limestone, calcium carbonate or magnesium carbonate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2001
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventors: John H. Beard, Allan Roush
  • Patent number: 6485632
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for reclaiming waste oil for use as fuel for a diesel engine. A mixing tank is provided, along with a waste oil transfer pump for supplying waste oil to the mixing tank, a fuel proportioning pump for supplying a proportional amount of light fuel oil to the mixing tank, and a heating unit for heating the oil-fuel mixture. An additive proportioning pump may also be provided for supplying chemical fuel additives such as emulsifiers and combustion improvers to the mixing tank. A fuel delivery pump delivers the heated oil-fuel mixture from the mixing tank to a diesel engine for use as fuel. Pre-filters are provided to remove a large portion of the particulate material from the waste oil before it is delivered to the mixing tank, and final filters remove additional contaminants from the oil-fuel mixture before it reaches the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Inventor: Michael S. Ward
  • Patent number: 6457563
    Abstract: An arrangement in a circulation lubrication system include a lubricating oil tank, pressure pipe lines for supplying oil to parts to be lubricated, return pipe lines for returning the oil from the parts to be lubricated to the oil tank, and a mechanism configured to pump oil into the pressure pipe lines and maintaining a desired state of lubrication. The mechanism configured to pump the oil into the pressure pipe lines may include a circulation lubrication pump and a suction duct through which the lubricating oil flows out of a lubricating oil tank, an underpressure tank coupled to the suction duct leading off from the lubricating oil tank, to the suction side of the circulation lubrication pump. The underpressure tank is a tank which allows the water contained in the oil to evaporate. To prevent cavitation of the circulation lubrication pump, the underpressure tank is placed substantially higher than the lubricating oil tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: Safematic Oy
    Inventors: Kari Ahlbom, Ari Airaksinen, Kari Antila, Jari Rinkinen, Arto Alfthan
  • Patent number: 6447672
    Abstract: A continuous, hot vapor injection process and apparatus is provided for recovering lube oil base stocks from used lubricating oil containing distillable liquid hydrocarbons and water. Also disclosed is an asphalt blend composition containing an asphalt component and the bottoms from the above process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Assignee: Marathon Ashland Pertoleum LLC
    Inventors: Howard F. Moore, Donald P. Malone
  • Patent number: 6440298
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided reclaiming a useful oil product from waste oil, such as used lubricating oil. The apparatus comprises an oil feed means, a boiler, a heater and a separating means. The heater is used to heat the waste oil in the boiler to a temperature such that lighter hydrocarbons remain unvolatilized, trapping contaminants therewith. The separating means separates the volatilized lighter hydrocarbons from the unvolatilized heavier hydrocarbons and contaminants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2002
    Assignee: Patent Holdings Ltd.
    Inventor: Edward Carlton Shurtleff
  • Patent number: 6402938
    Abstract: Used Motor Oil is re-refined by direct injection of a superheated, non-hydrogenating recycle vapor. The process operates at low pressures, preferably from atmospheric—10 atmospheres absolute. Preferably a significant amount of the energy required to vapor used motor oil is supplied in the form of increased sensible heat of a recycle vapor stream. Direct injection of superheated vapor reduces or eliminates fouling which can occur when indirect heat exchange is used to supply the heat needed to vaporize used motor oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC
    Inventors: Howard F. Moore, Arthur G. Shaffer, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6402937
    Abstract: A process for the direct contact heating and vaporization of UMO is disclosed. A superheated, but condensable, vapor heats and vaporizes distillable liquid hydrocarbons from a waste motor oil stream, producing an overhead vapor fraction of injected superheated vapor and vaporized boiling range components. This material is cooled and partially condensed to produce lube boiling range liquid hydrocarbons and a vapor phase, which is condensed to produce a recycle liquid phase. Recycle liquid is pumped and then heated to produce superheated vapor for recycle to contact the UMO.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC
    Inventors: Arthur G. Shaffer, Jr., Howard F. Moore
  • Patent number: 6398948
    Abstract: In a method of removing acidic compounds, color, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and for removing or converting hydrocarbons containing heteroatoms from used oil distillate, phase transfer catalysts are employed to facilitate the transfer of inorganic or organic bases to the substrate of the oil distillate. An inorganic or organic base, a phase transfer catalyst selected from the group including quaternary ammonium salts, polyol ethers and crown ethers, and used oil distillate are mixed and heated. Thereafter, contaminants are removed from the used oil distillate through distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2002
    Assignee: Miami University
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Sherman, Richard T. Taylor
  • Patent number: 6395166
    Abstract: A method of reclaiming used motor oil for further use is disclosed comprising (a) admixing used impurity laden motor oil with an effective amount of acetone as a flocculating agent and an effective amount of a second ketone as a wetting agent thereby forming an oil impurity flocculent mixture; (b) subjecting said mixture to a force such that a heavy phase and a light phase are formed, wherein said light phase is comprised of lean motor oil, acetone, and a second ketone, and wherein said heavy phase is comprised of flocculated impurities, any remaining acetone, and any remaining second ketone; and (c) separating said light phase containing said lean motor oil from said heavy phase containing said flocculated impurities. Preferably the second ketone is diisopropyl ketone, though other second ketones are also functional.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Inventor: Frederick J. Haydock
  • Patent number: 6372122
    Abstract: In a method of removing acidic compounds, color, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and for removing or converting hydrocarbons containing heteroatoms from petroleum distillates, phase transfer catalyst is employed to facilitate the transfer of inorganic or organic bases to the substrate of the distillate. An inorganic or organic base, a phase transfer catalyst selected from the group including quaternary ammonium salts, polyol ethers and crown ethers, and used oil distillate are mixed and heated. Thereafter, contaminants are removed from the used oil distillate through distillation. A solvent is then mixed with the resulting distillate to extract contaminants therefrom. The solvent is recovered and distilled to separate the contaminants therefrom, and is then reused. The petroleum distillate having the contaminants separated therefrom is coalesced to remove any remaining solvent therefrom, with the recovered solvent being reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2002
    Assignee: Avista Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: William A. Gorman
  • Publication number: 20020036158
    Abstract: A method for separating used oil in a simple batch process into usable fractions. A pretreatment step involves forming a mixture of the used oil and specified pretreatment chemicals. A reduced pressure is maintained throughout the process along with mixing of the formed mixture. Heat is applied at a predetermined rate corresponding to vaporization and recovery of usable fractions of aqueous, light hydrocarbons, base oil, and a pumpable residual. Each distillate fraction is removed as a vapor, condensed and collected. Undesirable cracking is avoided by maintaining a reduced pressure and avoiding rapid or localized heating within the mixture by mixing during the distillation process. The resulting aqueous and light fractions can be reused in the process or otherwise used. The pumpable residual can also be sold as a high quality asphalt extender. The recovered base oil fraction may be sold as a diesel fuel extender, lubricant, catalytic cracker feed stock, or #4 fuel oil for stationary power generators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventor: Douglas P. Austin
  • Patent number: 6319394
    Abstract: In a method of removing acidic compounds, color, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and for removing or converting hydrocarbons containing heteroatoms from petroleum distillates, phase transfer catalyst is employed to facilitate the transfer of inorganic or organic bases to the substrate of the distillate. An inorganic or organic base, a phase transfer catalyst selected from the group including quaternary ammonium salts, polyol ethers and crown ethers, and used oil distillate are mixed and heated. Thereafter, contaminants are removed from the used oil distillate through distillation. A solvent is then mixed with the resulting distillate to extract contaminants therefrom. The solvent is recovered and distilled to separate the contaminants therefrom, and is then reused. The petroleum distillate having the contaminants separated therefrom is also distilled to remove any remaining solvent therefrom, with the recovered solvent being reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2001
    Assignee: Miami University
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Sherman, Richard T. Taylor, Amanda L. Hofacker, James W. Hershberger, Garrett M. Conn, William A. Gorman
  • Patent number: 6287455
    Abstract: The present invention provides a means of removing water, antifreeze and fuel from lubricating or hydraulic oil by evaporating these impurities and venting them out of the purifier. The oil is heated by heat of an exposed horizontal heating wand within the evaporator. The oil then passes over the upper lip of the evaporator and cascades downward over the evaporator's ridged outer surface, thereby impeding the flow of oil and increasing the rate of evaporation of the impurities. The evaporated impurities then rise upward along the interior of the domed cover and are vented out of the purifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Inventor: C. Barclay Whitmore
  • Patent number: 6270678
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of treating alkaline waste water originating from washing spent oil which has undergone an alkaline treatment with water and which contains organic material. This method can produce water which can be discharged into conventional industrial water treatment facilities or which can be used directly as a base for preparing fertilizers or for preparing an agent for preventing ice formation on road surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Inventor: Bernard Chavet
  • Patent number: 6270657
    Abstract: An asphalt blend composition containing an asphalt component and a bottoms fraction from a used motor vaporization process of the above process, and a pavement composition comprising aggregate and the asphalt blend composition. The process comprises directly contacting used lubricating oil with a heated vapor, e.g., steam, under conditions which at least partially decompose the organo-metallic component and provide a desired volume of pumpable bottoms containing organo-metallic compound decomposition products and an overhead comprising gases and distillatable hydrocarbons, with no substantial carryover of metals into the overhead. The process may be carried out under conditions which minimize decomposition of high molecular weight additives such as VI improvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2001
    Assignee: Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC
    Inventors: Howard F Moore, Donald P Malone, Patricia K Doolin, David J Zalewski
  • Patent number: 6258332
    Abstract: The present invention provides for an apparatus and method for collecting and recycling a petroleum by-product such as hydrocarbon residue from crude oil. The apparatus comprises a container having a top, bottom, and sides, an internal heating element, an inlet element, an outlet element, a pump connector, and optionally a plug element for an auxiliary connector. The present invention further provides a method for recycling waxy hydrocarbon residue from crude oil. The method comprises providing the container of the present invention; filling the container with a sufficient amount of the waxy hydrocarbon residue; heating the waxy hydrocarbon residue in the container in order to produce a liquefied hydrocarbon residue; pumping the liquefied hydrocarbon residue out of the container through the pump connector and into a separate storage vessel; and, recycling the liquefied hydrocarbon residue into a usable oil refinery product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Company
    Inventors: George W. Johnson, John P Nakamura
  • Patent number: 6238551
    Abstract: In a method of removing acidic compounds, color, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and for removing or converting hydrocarbons containing heteroatoms from petroleum distillates, phase transfer catalyst is employed to facilitate the transfer of inorganic or organic bases to the substrate of the distillate. An inorganic or organic base, a phase transfer catalyst selected from the group including quaternary ammonium salts, polyol ethers and crown ethers, and used oil distillate are mixed and heated. Thereafter, contaminants are removed from the used oil distillate through distillation. A solvent is then mixed with the resulting distillate to extract contaminants therefrom. The solvent is recovered and distilled to separate the contaminants therefrom, and is then reused. The petroleum distillate having the contaminants separated therefrom is also distilled to remove any remaining solvent therefrom, with the recovered solvent being reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Miami University
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Sherman, Richard T. Taylor, Amanda L. Hofacker, James W. Hershberger, Garrett M. Conn, William A. Gorman
  • Patent number: 6191077
    Abstract: A method of cleaning mineral-oil-based liquid cooling lubricants in which the cooling lubricants, which are continuously circulated in metal-working plants, are cleaned by a deposition filtration system. A continuous or discontinuous inoculation or introduction of filtering aid material is carried out in the filtration circuit during the filtration of the liquid cooling lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignees: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft, Filterwerk Mann & Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: Reinhard Baumgartner, Karl-Guenther Bremer, Rudi Bungenberg, Walter Janning, Joachim Panhans, Eduard Rauscher
  • Patent number: 6132596
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process and apparatus for the reclaiming and re-refining of waste oils. The process comprises raising a temperature of a feed mixture of fresh waste oil and a recycled non-volatile residue to a range of 400.degree. C. to 490.degree. C. for a time sufficient to cause pyrolysis of said heavy hydrocarbons contained in the feed mixture, but insufficient to permit substantial undesired polymerization, oxidation and dehydrogenation reactions to take place in said feed mixture; cooling the resulting pyrolyzed waste oil mixture to a temperature in the range of 300.degree. C. to 425.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Inventor: Heshui Yu
  • Patent number: 6126843
    Abstract: A process for treating cooling lubricants to prevent attack by microorganisms using crospovidone-iodine as biocidal substance, wherein the cooling lubricant to be treated is brought into contact with a filter cake which consists essentially of particulate crospovidone-iodine as filter medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignees: BASF Aktiengesellschaft, Schenk Filterbau GmbH
    Inventors: Siegfried Lang, Bernhard Fussnegger, Dietmar Oechsle, Klaus Helmut Feifel, Martin Zeiler
  • Patent number: 6117309
    Abstract: A process for recovering a base oil of lubricating viscosity from used oil in which, following optional pretreatment, used oil is re-refined by distilling it in distillation apparatus having multiple theoretical plates. Impurities are then extracted from the lube range distillate fraction or fractions with a liquid extractant such as N-Methyl-2-Pyrrolidone (NMP) at a temperature below the temperature, if any, of complete miscibility of the extractant and the oil. The oil and extractant are then separated whereupon the extractant is re-used in the process and the oil is subject to further treatment, as necessary, for targeted uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2000
    Assignee: Probex Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander D. B. Daspit, Martin MacDonald, Thomas G. Murray
  • Patent number: 6106699
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a process of reducing the chlorine content of oil as well as its propensity to foul during subsequent distillation processes. The process heats the oil to a temperature in the range of 400 to 700 F and contacts the oil with a non-oxidizing gas, such as steam, for a residence time of at least several minutes. Thereafter the oil may be distilled and/or finished to a base lubricating oil or other distillate product. The oil subject to the process may be used oil, and can be subject to a dewatering or removal of light contaminants treatment prior to being subject to the process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2000
    Assignee: Probex
    Inventors: Martin R. MacDonald, Alexander D.B. Daspit, Thomas G. Murray
  • Patent number: 6090273
    Abstract: Used lubricating oil containing unacceptable levels of moisture and ash-forming contaminants is dried and clarified by a process that includes flash drying, heat treating at a temperature within the range of 600.degree.-700.degree. F. for 2-5 hours, and cooling the heat treated oil. Optional internal recycle of the product from each of these steps can help enhance the clarification process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: U.S. Filter Recovery Services (Mid-Altantic, Inc.)
    Inventor: Geza L. Kovacs
  • Patent number: 6068759
    Abstract: A process is provided for recovering lube oil base stocks from used lubricating oil formulations containing base oil stock and organo-metallic component which obviates preseparation of water and light hydrocarbons contaminants. The process comprises directly contacting used lubricating oil with a heated vapor, e.g., steam, under conditions which at least partially decompose the organo-metallic component and provide a desired volume of pumpable bottoms containing organo-metallic compound decomposition products and an overhead comprising gases and distillatable hydrocarbons, with no substantial carryover of metals into the overhead. The process may be carried out under conditions which minimize decomposition of high molecular weight additives such as VI improvers, to provide a bottoms fraction which may be added to asphalt or fuel oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2000
    Assignee: Marathon Ashland Petroleum LLC
    Inventors: Howard F Moore, Donald P Malone, Patricia K Doolin, David J Zalewski
  • Patent number: 6024880
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method suitable for treating used oil to remove contaminants including ash and color contaminants therefrom to provide a purified oil product. The method comprises the steps of providing a porous inorganic membrane module having a high pressure side and a low pressure side, and a body of oil to be treated. The oil is introduced to the high pressure side of the membrane module to provide an oil permeate on the low pressure side and an ash rich concentrate on the high pressure side thereby separating ash in the oil from the oil permeate. Thereafter the oil permeate is contacted with an adsorbent to remove one of color and odor from the oil permeate to provide a purified oil product. The spent adsorbent can be regenerated and reused.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2000
    Inventors: Richard J. Ciora, Jr., Paul K. T. Liu
  • Patent number: 6013174
    Abstract: Simple, economical process for removing ash-formers from used oil, to reduce materially the ash content value of the reclaimed oil and enhance its value substantially.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: U.S. Filter Recovery Services (Mid-Atlantic, Inc.)
    Inventor: Geza L. Kovacs
  • Patent number: 6007701
    Abstract: In a method of removing acidic compounds, color, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and for removing or converting hydrocarbons containing heteroatoms from used oil distillate, phase transfer catalysts are employed to facilitate the transfer of inorganic or organic bases to the substrate of the oil distillate. An inorganic or organic base, a phase transfer catalyst selected from the group including quaternary ammonium salts, polyol ethers and crown ethers, and used oil distillate are mixed and heated. Thereafter, contaminants are removed from the used oil distillate through distillation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Miami University
    Inventors: Jeffrey H. Sherman, Richard T. Taylor
  • Patent number: 5976357
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for purification of oil which is contaminated with particles of random density and/or water. A collection polymer or polymer mixture which is insoluble in oil and liquid at room temperature and which has a density which is higher than the oil is added to and mixed with the contaminated oil. The collection polymer and the oil are separated by gravity with or without centrifugation such that the oil forms a top phase and the collection polymer or polymer mixture and the main part of the contaminants form a bottom phase. The bottom phase with the collection polymer and the contaminants is removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Alfa Laval Separation AB
    Inventors: Gunnar Strom, Bjorn Malarstig
  • Patent number: 5948242
    Abstract: A process for upgrading heavy crude oil production is described which involves adding a diluent, or solvent, which is a light hydrocarbon to reduce the viscosity and specific gravity of the crude oil being processed. After dilution, the emulsions in the crude are broken and the separation of the crude into the components follows, aided by a second injection of diluent. This upgrades the crude and enhances the amount recovered for processing at a refinery. A high asphalt content of a heavy crude can also be tolerated in the practice of this invention resulting in environmentally-benign solids and water exiting a process which due to the modularization of equipment can be practiced at the well-head itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 7, 1999
    Assignee: UniPure Corporation
    Inventors: Ernest O. Ohsol, John W. Pinkerton, Thomas E. Gillespie, Thomas H. Laity
  • Patent number: 5919353
    Abstract: In a method for thermally reforming an emulsion, comprising removing water and an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal salt contained in an oil-in-water type emulsion of a tarry material or a heavy fuel oil (e.g., ORINOCO BITUMEN), sulfuric acid is added, in an amount of preferably 0.05% to 1.0% by weight based on the emulsion, to the emulsion, the mixture is allowed to stand at such a temperature as to give a difference in density between separated water and heavy fuel oil, preferably for 10 min or more, to permit oil-water separation, and the separated oil phase is withdrawn. When the tarry material is ORINOCO BITUMEN, an emulsion made of ORINOCO BITUMEN is thermochemically reformed by adding 0.1 to 0.4% by weight of sulfuric acid to ORINOCO BITUMEN, allowing the mixture to stand under pressure at a temperature of 170.degree. to 200.degree. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Mitsui Engineering & Shipbuilding Co. LTD.
    Inventors: Hidenobu Itou, Isao Tanaka, Manabu Katagiri, Yasuhisa Endou, Yutaka Nagita
  • Patent number: 5904838
    Abstract: A process for the simultaneous conversion of waste lubricating oil and pyrolysis oil derived from organic waste to produce a synthetic crude oil by means of contacting the combined feed with a hot hydrogen-rich gaseous stream to increase the temperature of the combined feed to vaporize at least a portion of the distillable organic compounds contained therein which is immediately hydrogenated in a hydrogenation reaction zone. The resulting effluent from the hydrogenation reaction zone is then introduced into a hydroprocessing zone to produce higher hydrogen-content hydrocarbons and to remove heterogeneous components such as sulfur, oxygen, nitrogen and halide, for example. The resulting effluent is cooled and partially condensed to produce a gaseous stream containing hydrogen and gaseous water-soluble inorganic compounds and a liquid stream containing hydrocarbon compounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: UOP LLC
    Inventors: Tom N. Kalnes, Robert B. James, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5900155
    Abstract: An apparatus for on-site engine oil reconditioning comprises an apparatus configured and arranged for changing oil by removing spent oil from, and introducing reconditioned oil into an internal combustion engine. A mechanism, in fluid communication with the oil changing apparatus, removes finite particles from the spent oil to produce particle-free oil. A mechanism, in fluid communication with the finite particle removing mechanism, refines the particle-free oil to remove water, fuel, and/or glycols to produce re-refined oil. A mechanism, in fluid communication with the refining mechanism, adjusts the composition of the re-refined oil to meet a predetermined specification to produce the reconditioned oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: K.J. Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Ram D. Bedi
  • Patent number: 5888375
    Abstract: A method of treating oil sludge and an apparatus for carrying out same, whereby oil of good quality and inorganic harmless slag can be easily obtained. The method includes agitating oil sludge in an electrolytic tank so as to liquefy same, extracting waste fluid from the liquefied oil sludge, separating solid material from the liquefied oil sludge with a centrifugal separator, extracting waste fluid including the solid material, transporting the liquefied oil sludge to a precipitation tank, extracting waste fluid which is separated and precipitated in the precipitation tank, applying low frequency oscillation to the oil sludge in fluid supply tubes between the electrolytic tank, centrifugal separator and precipitation tank so as to increase oxygen content, extracting oil from an upper portion of the precipitation tank, and incinerating the extracted waste fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1999
    Inventor: Yoshihiro Iwata
  • Patent number: 5885444
    Abstract: A process for thermally cracking waste motor oil into a diesel fuel product is provided. The thermal cracking process uses low temperature cracking temperatures from 625.degree. F. to 725.degree. F. with ambient pressure to generate a column distilled fraction of diesel fuel mixed with light ends, the light ends being flashed off to produce a high quality #2 diesel fuel. The process further provides for removal from the cracking vessel an additional product stream which, when filtered, is suitable for use as a #3 fuel oil and that can be further blended with a bunker oil to yield a #5 fuel product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Green Oasis Environmental, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Wansbrough, Calvin E. Moore, Jr., William D. Carraway
  • Patent number: 5871618
    Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus and a process for reclaiming fuel oil from waste oil. The apparatus comprises a thermal cracking unit for cracking the high boiling hydrocarbon material into lighter, lower boiling, material so as to separate hydrocarbon vapor products from viscous materials; a condenser/heat exchanger for condensing the hydrocarbon vapor products to the liquid state; a fuel stabilization unit for chemically treating the condensates so as to give a oil product and solid sediment; and a polishing unit for forming a high quality fuel oil by physically removing solid contaminants. According to the present invention, high quality fuel oil can be obtained together with an environmentally innocuous solid ash cake, through a simple and efficient process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Inventors: Sung Rae Lee, Henry Kong, Roy B. Jeffries, Norman L. Arrison, Wlodzimierz P. Rzazewski
  • Patent number: RE38366
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for re-refining used oil, in which the used oil is processed in at least one cyclonic vacuum evaporator comprising a void evaporation chamber (4) into which feedstock is tangentially injected, and in which a fraction of the feedstock is condensed in a spray condenser (7) communicating with the evaporation chamber (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Assignee: Avista Resources, Inc.
    Inventor: Kalevi John Kenton
  • Patent number: RE36922
    Abstract: A used lubricant oil recycling process is disclosed in which a used lubricating oil is injected to a delayed coker downstream of the coker furnace whereby the used oil is thermally cracked into hydrocarbon fuel products which are low in metal contaminants, sulfur and nitrogen. The used lubricant can be preheated in an independent heater to avoid a quenching effect of the process stream when added in an amount greater than about 3% by volume based on the entire volume of the feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: Mobil Oil Corporation
    Inventors: Steven W. Sparks, Gerald J. Teitman, Salvatore T. M. Viscontini