Abstract: A process is disclosed for the working up of salvage oil, in which the salvage oil is subjected to an extraction under supercritical conditions. The halogen compounds contained in the produced extract are removed by catalytic hydrogenation. The extraction residue is eliminated by deposition or thermal treatment (gasification). In the case of a thermal treatment of the extraction residue, other residues can be simultaneously converted, so that the process is performed without yield of environmentally burdensome residues or by-products. Ethane in particular and/or propane is employed as solvent for the supercritical extraction.

Abstract: Contaminated oil is reclaimed for fuel use by pumping same through an oil filter into one side of a divided tank then through a heater to burn off water and antifreeze and then into the other side of the divided tank where the oil is blended with other clean oil, such as diesel fuel, which is then pumped through a water separator and another oil filter into a fuel supply tank from which it is pumped and used for blending. The divided tank is mounted on wheels and carries the various components such as pumps, heater, valves, piping, filter and so forth.

Abstract: A method for treating a heavy metal-containing liquid, such as a wastewater stream, oil for recycling, or other metal-bearing liquid, with a trithiocarbonate, particularly an alkali metal trithiocarbonate, such as sodium trithiocarbonate, to precipitate the metals as insoluble sulfides. The precipitated metal sulfides are recovered as a low volume sludge, which can be processed through standard metallurgical techniques to yield the metals in economically useful forms. Among the most unexpected results produced by this method is the lowering of the selenium content in a naturally occurring body of water from 1.0 ppm to 0.0015 ppm.

Abstract: A finished oil product is recovered from crude or waste oil contaminated with water and the like by heating the waste oil in a tank with a heating flame which may be gas or oil fired. The waste oil is heated until vapors including light ends and the desired finished oil product are produced from the waste oil within the tank. The vapors are introduced into the heating flame so that additional heat is developed by such afterburning to heat the waste oil in the tank. The finished oil product as recovered from the waste oil is discharged from the tank by a suitable outlet pipe arrangement.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for removing halogenated polyphenyl materials from used or waste oil supplies. Waste or used lube stock is subjected to rerefining procedures in order to remove many of the impurities found in such waste or used stocks. The rerefined stock which is contaminated with halogenated polyphenyls is continuously pumped under pressure and mixed with highly pressurized hydrogen gas which is heated to a relatively low temperature and passed through a bed of catalyst in order to promote a reaction that forms a hydrogen halide and a polynuclear aromatic material that does not exhibit the environmental and health hazards of a halogenated polyphenyl material such as PCB's.

Abstract: Regenerated sorbent employed for refining of heavy crude feedstocks is used to remove contaminants from specialized hydrocarbons, especially used motor oil. The simultaneous operation of a decontaminating unit supplied with regenerated sorbent particulate from the regenerator of a heavy hydrocarbon refining system is utilized.

Abstract: A process for recovering hydrocarbon oils and hydrocarbon oils containing dissolved additives from filter cakes produced by filtering such oils using a siliceous filter aid.A small amount of a release agent, up to 2 cc per gram of filter cake, is slowly added to the filter cake with agitation to prevent formation of a release agent phase and then a further quantity of release agent is added to the resultant mixture with gentle stirring and the final mixture is then held quiescent at elevated temperature until an oil phase separates. The oil phase is removed and the remainder of the mixture is filtered to separate a release agent filtrate and a filter cake consisting mainly of filter aid.

Abstract: In the purification of oil used for example in light metal rolling, and contaminated by abraded particles, a coagulating agent, for example an aqueous soda solution, is added by means of a dosaging device (7) and mixed in a device (5) which comprises a static dispersing device (8) with a jet pump (9) connected thereafter with a recirculation loop (10). The mixing is normally carried out at an elevated temperature and a heating step (3,4) included. After mixing, the coagulates formed are separated, typically in a centrifuge (14). The invention is particularly suited to the purification of the rolling oil occurring in the manufacture of aluminium foils.

Abstract: There are provided a process and apparatus for the reclamation of oil from emulsified mixtures of oil, water and particulate solids. Basic to the process is the introduction of the emulsified mixture to undergo reclamation into a settler providing an internal mixing centerwell in communication with a surrounding settling tank at a first temperature. Typically, the surrounding settling tank consists of a cylindrical zone and a conical zone. At a base of the settling zone is an exhaust for sludge and, if desired, water. At the opposed or upper end of the settling zone is a clarified-oil outlet, which is preferably in the form of an annular, peripheral weir. The mixing centerwell has an inlet and outlet for flow of a heating fluid, typically steam; or of a cooling fluid, typically water, therethrough. The emulsion and demulsifying agent are added to the central mixing zone. Agitation is substantially confined thereto. Operation may be on a batch, semi-continuous or continuous basis.

Abstract: Used oils, especially used lubricating oils which are normally considered waste and are discarded or burned, are reclaimed for reuse by a re-refining procedure involving the steps of:(a) heat soaking the used oil;(b) distilling the heat soaked oil;(c) passing the distillate through a guard bed of activated material;(d) hydrotreating the guard bed treated distillate under standard hydrotreating conditions.If the used oil to be re-refined contains a quantity of water and/or fuel fraction which the practioner considers sufficiently large to be detrimental, the used oil may be subjected to a dewatering/defueling step prior to being heat soaked.

Abstract: Used oil is rerefined utilizing borohydride reducing agents. The borohydride reducing agent contacts the used oil in an aqueous solution, for example. Contact with the borohydride reducing agent may occur before, during or after distillation or evaporation of the used oil. The disclosed method reduces the concentration of carbonyl compounds and metals and reduces the corrosion characteristics of used oil.

Abstract: A used lubricating oil is reclaimed by vacuum distillation. The bottoms is vacuum pyrolyzed with limestone to form a virtually insoluble coked mass containing insoluble metal carbonates and free metal. This solid coked residuum is suitable for landfilling.

Abstract: Used lubricating oil is rerefined utilizing hydride reducing agents. The hydride reducing agent contacts the used oil in an aqueous solution, for example. Contact with the hydride reducing agent may occur before, during or after distillation or evaporation of the used lubricating oil. The disclosed method reduces the concentration of carbonyl compounds and metals and reduces the corrosion characteristics of used lubricating oil.

Abstract: A method of reclaiming usable stock from used lubricating oil includes passing the used oil through a bed of oil shale containing kerogen. The shale removes impurities from the oil. The shale is then heated to convert the kerogens to shale oil in the presence of hydrogen donor compounds contained in the lubricating oil remaining in the shale. These enhance hydrogen transfer during shale oil production.

Abstract: In a process for producing an essentially ash-free oil stock from a lubricating oil containing ash forming components comprising reacting the oil with an aqueous ammonium salt capable of reacting with the ash-containing components and heating the thus treated oil at a temperature in the range of about 300.degree. C. to about 420.degree. C. to increase the amount of the ash-forming components removed, the improvement comprising not exposing the oil to a temperature greater than 200.degree. C. before the oil is passed into a large volume of the oil already at a temperature in the range of about 300.degree. C. to about 400.degree. C.

Abstract: A process is provided for removing contaminants from waste lubricating oil. The waste oil is contacted with one or more of the pretreatment chemicals ammonium sulphate, ammonium bisulphate, ammonium dihydrogen phosphate, diammonium phosphate, calcium hydrogen phosphate, phosphoric acid, calcium sulphate, aluminum sulphate, and magnesium sulphate. The contacting step is performed at a temperature of at least about 650.degree. F. The oil mixture is then filtered to remove the contaminants. The pretreatment chemical is preferably added in the absence of water, thereby reducing the amount of water to be removed from the oil.

Abstract: A process for reclaiming spent oil comprises the steps of removing water and light hydrocarbons, thermally treating the stripped oil, extracting it with a supercritical gas to insolubilize impurities and additives, separating the gas-rich fractions from the oil-depleted gas fractions, expanding the insoluble fractions, separating the additives and impurities, separating the various hydrocarbon fractions according to the respective viscosities, compressing and recycling the gas phases and withdrawing the residue and the oil fractions according to the respective viscosities.

Abstract: A process is provided for removing contaminants from waste lubricating oil. The previously untreated waste oil is contacted with decolorizing clay and the mixture is heated to and retained for a period of time at a temperature in the range of about 650.degree.-725.degree. F., to render the mixture filterable. The product clay-oil mixture is cooled and filtered to produce an oil filtrate reduced in contaminants. The clay contacting step may optionally be performed in a hydrogen atmosphere. The oil product can be used for non-critical uses or further upgraded by conventional methods.

Abstract: A novel process for the purification of used oil comprising removing the ash-forming components, then subjecting the oil to vacuum fractionation. A novel vacuum fractionation column is also disclosed.

Abstract: The object of the invention is a process for recycling used lubricating oils. After drying and gasoline removal, the oil is distilled and then treated with sodium or sodium hydride in a finely-divided state at elevated temperature. This is followed by a further distillation. Both distillations are at temperatures below 300.degree. C., the oil fractions of low volatility being respectively distilled in a molecular distillation apparatus at below 2 mbar.

Abstract: A catalytic process for the conversion of hydrocarbons or bituminous shales or carbon monoxide in the liquid phase in contact with hydrogen flowing upwardly through a series of successive stages, each containing a catalyst bed either semi-stationary or dispersed in the charge, the catalyst being maintained at each stage by an upward flow of hydrogen or hydrocarbon supplied below an opening in the partition wall between two successive stages and periodically allowed to pass from one stage to the next through said opening, by discontinuing said upward flow.

Abstract: Lubrication oils used in rolling strip and foil in the light metal industing are contaminated with fine metallic particles during rolling. The process described here allows these oils to be cleaned either continuously or in a batch process by adding a strongly alkaline solution to the warm contaminated oil whereby these fine particles coagulate and can be separated out by means of centrifuging or filtering.

Abstract: An oil reclamation device comprises a housing, filter, evaporator plate and heating assembly. The housing has a longitudinal axis and includes an oil inlet to receive oil to be reclaimed and an oil outlet to discharge reconditioned oil. Features of this invention include an improved filter assembly, an inside sealing mechanism for flow control, a wall guide mechanism to maintain proper flow control, an improved heat transmitting element, an oil inlet metering assembly and an improved evaporator plate.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for re-processing waste oil for the production of a fuel oil substitute are described. The waste oil is passed first to a solids separation zone and then to a three phase separator in which the oil is intimately contacted with water. The plant is preferably operated continuously and the rate of supply of waste oil to the solids separation zone is controlled in dependence on the water content of the oil product from the three phase separator. A system of level controls and pressure switches is described which provide for automatic shut down of the plant in the event of "seal loss" in the separator or other malfunction of the plant.

Abstract: In a process for reducing the concentration of ash-forming components in a lubricating oil wherein a feedstream comprising said lubricating oil and an aqueous ammonium salt treating agent is continuously passed into a first reaction zone wherein said treating agent reacts with ash-forming components in said oil and an effluent is continuously withdrawn from said first reaction zone and subjected to filtration after removal of water therefrom, the improvement comprising introducing said feedstream into said first reaction zone by passing said feestream through a centrifugal pump along with portions of the contents of said first reaction zone.

Abstract: Process for removing metal(s) and water from used hydrocarbon lubricating oil characterized in that the said used oil is treated with an aqueous solution containing a surfactant and anions which form an insoluble salt or insoluble salts with at least one metal present in the said used oil followed by separation of an oil layer of reduced metal and water content.The oil so treated is suitable for refinery feedstock, and also as fuel oil or as blendstock for other hydrocarbon products, or as rerefining feedstock.

Abstract: An oil reclamation device comprises a housing, filter, evaporator plate and heating assembly. The housing has a longitudinal axis and includes an oil inlet to receive oil to be reclaimed and an oil outlet to discharge reconditioned oil. The filter is disposed at one end of the housing to define a mechanical filtration zone which receives the oil from the oil inlet of the device. The evaporator plate is disposed within the housing adjacent the mechanical filtration zone. The heating assembly is disposed at the open end of the housing adjacent the evaporator plate to define an evaporation chamber therebetween. The evaporator plate includes upwardly projecting evaporation walls defining a plurality of curved vaporizing surfaces laterally displaced radially with respect to each other to form a fluid traveling surface therebetween. The heating assembly includes downwardly projecting heating walls defining a plurality of curved heating surfaces located between the curved vaporizing surfaces.

Abstract: Ammonium sulfate-bisulfate solution contaminated with metal and other ash producing contaminants is treated by adjusting the pH of the solution to the range that produces a precipitate of the contaminant by the addition of ammonia or ammonium hydroxide; cooled to at least the temperature at which a precipitate is produced; removing the precipitate from the solution; the pH of the solution from which the precipitate has been removed is adjusted to the range at which precipitation is substantially completed by the addition of sulfuric acid; and the SO.sub.4.sup.= ion concentration and the NH.sub.4.sup.+ ion concentration of the solution are adjusted to the range of the solution before initial circulation to produce a solution in which the metal concentration has been sufficiently reduced to permit recycle for use in reclaiming used motor oils.

Abstract: An oil reclamation device comprises a housing, filter, evaporator plate and heating assembly. The evaporator plate includes upwardly projecting evaporation walls defining a plurality of curved vaporizing surfaces laterally displaced radially with respect to each other to form a fluid traveling surface therebetween. The heating assembly includes downwardly projecting heating walls defining a plurality of curved heating surfaces located between the curved vaporizing surfaces. The evaporation walls and the heating walls define a plurality of curved paths along the fluid traveling surface from the longitudinal axis of the housing outwardly along the evaporator plate. The evaporator plate includes passageways extending from the mechanical filtration zone to deliver substantially all of the oil being treated at a centermost portion of the evaporator plate.

Abstract: A used lubricating oil reclamation apparatus in which filters, heat exchangers, a vaporizer unit, pumps and other necessary equipment are all contained in a wheeled cabinet. The oil to be reclaimed is pumped through a warming heat exchanger, a first filter, a vaporizer unit, and further filters, after which appropriate additives are mixed into the decontaminated oil in a mixing tank. A vacuum is maintained on the vaporizer unit to exhaust the vapours from it via the heat exchanger and a condensate tank.

Abstract: A method of facilitating the disposal of waste cutting liquid consisting essentially of an emulsion of partly soluble oils and water comprises subjecting a trickling flow of the liquid to the action of a current of hot air at a temperature of from 80.degree. to 250.degree. C. and thus evaporating the water from the liquid. Insoluble oils may be removed from the liquid by decantation before the liquid is subjected to the current of hot air. Preferably the oil which remains after the water has been evaporated from the liquid is used as fuel in the heating of the hot air so that the oil is disposed of. Apparatus for carrying out this method comprises an evaporation tower containing a series of plates alternately inclined in opposite directions to the horizontal and arranged one beneath the other to permit a trickling zig-zag flow of the cutting liquid over the plates from the top plate to the bottom plate in the series.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of fabric cleaning utilizing a solvent emulsion which effectively combines the dissolving and suspending power of water for hydrophilic substances with the dissolving power of organic compositions for hydrophobic substances. The factor lending economic practicability to the process is the breaking of the emulsion after it has performed its cleaning function whereby only the organic fraction thereof undergoes distillation cleansing.

Abstract: Used oil, such as automotive crankcase oil drainings from internal combustion engines, are pretreated by heating to above about 400.degree.-800.degree. F, and preferably between 600.degree.-750.degree. F, while an essentially liquid phase system is maintained at a pressure of between 500-3500 p.s.i.g., preferably between 2000-3500 p.s.i.g., for between 15-60 minutes, the contact time being even shorter at higher temperatures. A sludge which contains contaminants, such as insoluble degradation products, metallic compounds, and water, is separated preferably by centrifugation, leaving a substantially ashless oil ready for additional refinement to a high quality lubricating oil, or it may be used, per se, as a fuel oil.

Abstract: Used oil is rerefined by distilling it to remove a volatile forecut followed by a fraction of lubricating viscosity; the latter is then extracted with an immiscible liquid extractant to remove impurities. As optional preliminary steps, the oil may be diluted with a volatile diluent and insoluble impurities removed therefrom, and heated with an aqueous solution of a strongly alkaline material to concentrate metallic constituents (such as metal-containing additives) in a solid sludge.

Abstract: A device for use with an internal combustion engine for reconditioning oil by removal of solid and liquid contaminants including a housing having an oil inlet at one end and an oil outlet at an opposite end and containing a filter for removal of solid matter, a preheating chamber, a vaporization chamber for removal of liquid contaminants, and a convex conical vaporization plate separating and defining the roof of the preheating chamber and the floor of the vaporization chamber. The vaporization plate has a plurality of concentric tiers. The upper innermost tier of the vaporization plate has a plurality of capillaries each of which opens to the top planar surface of the tier through an expansion cup defined within an upwardly protruding lip. An electrical resistance heater is supported above the vaporization chamber for heating the vaporization chamber, the vaporization plate, and the preheating chamber. A vent for vaporized contaminants extends through the upper end of the housing.

Abstract: Used lubricating oils are first heated to 200.degree.-500.degree. C, optionally with added steam, and then filtered through a membrane such as an ultra-filtration membrane. The latter has preferably a cut range of from 5,000 to 300,000.

Abstract: Waste lube oil is refined by treating it with hydrogen in an ebullated bed of catalyst particles and subjecting the liquid effluent to vacuum distillation or other equivalent separation procedures to produce a clean and usable lubestock and a heavy residue which contains the sludge and metallic ingredients in the waste lube oil. This process finds its greatest utility in recovering usable lubricant from a waste product.

Abstract: A process for cleaning a used oil, in particular engine oil and industrial lubricating oil. The process comprises heat treating the used oil in a heat treatment zone at a temperature of 325.degree.-400.degree.C at a pressure of 1-6 bars for a period of at least 15 minutes, continuously withdrawing a first part of the treated oil from the heat treatment zone, re-heating said first part of the oil and recycling the re-heated first part of the oil through the heat treatment zone, subjecting the remainder of the heat treated oil from the heat treatment zone to a treatment for separating out the sedimentary residues from the heat treated oil. The sedimentary residues are incinerated in the re-heating furnace for re-heating said first part. A system is described for carrying out the process.