EPA-670/2-74-052
AUGUST 1974
Environmental Protection Technology Series
WASTE OIL RECYCLING
AND DISPOSAL
National Environmental Research Center
Office of Research and Development
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
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EPA-670/2-74-052
August 1974
WASTE OIL RECYCLING AND DISPOSAL
By
Norman J. Weinstein
Recon Systems Inc.
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Contract Nos. 68-01-1870
and 68-03-0394
Program Element No. 1BB041
Project Officer-
Leo T. McCarthy, Jr.
Industrial Waste Treatment Research Laboratory
Edison, New Jersey 08817
NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH CENTER
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
CINCINNATI , OHIO 45268
For .«le by the Superintendent of Document*, U.S. Government
Printing Office. Washington, D.C. 20402
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REVIEW NOTICE
The National Envirorinental 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. Envirorinental Protection
Agency, nor does mention of trade names or corn-
mercial products constitute endorsement or recom-
mendation for use.
Ii
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FOREWORD
Man and his environment must be protected from the adverse
effects of pesticides, radiation, noise and other forms of pol-
lution, 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
111
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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 produc-
tion, 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, in-
cluding 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 øf the desired
information. These included:
1. Visits to 30 re-refiners and waste oil processors, primarily
to obtain technical information.
2. 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.
3. A nationwide telephone survey of 92 collectors and processors
of waste oil.
4. 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 cormionly 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 pro-
cesses 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 arid waters.
iv
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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 con-
trol, dumps, and landfills. The disposal of oily flocs and sludges from
wastewater treatment is a major industrial problem.
Reconiiiendations 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.
V
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CONTENTS
Page
Abstract iv
List of Figures ix
List of Tables X
Acknowledgements xiv
Sections
I. Conclusions 1
II. Reconunendations 6
III. Introduction 9
IV. Classification of Waste Oils 10
Automotive Service Centers 10
The Do-It-Yourself Market 15
Conunercial Engine Fleets 15
Railroad Service Centers 16
Aviation Service Centers 18
The Metal Industry 19
Process Oil Consumers 21
Other Industrial Oils 22
Marine Transportation Waste Oils 23
Industrial Process Waste Oils 24
Petroleum Indus try
Oil and Fat Industry
Coking Ovens
Synthetic Oils 27
vi
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rage
V. Recycle and Disposal Techniques
For Vehicular Waste Oils 28
Current Processes For Re—Refining
Lube Oils 28
Acid/Clay Treatment
Distillation/Clay Treatment
Potential Processes for Re-Refining
Lube Oils 41
Solvent Extraction/Acid/Clay
Treatment
Distillation/Hydrogen Treatment
Other Re-Refining Approaches
Evaluation of Waste Lube Oil
Disposal Technology 50
Cost Basis
Process Comparisons
Other Disposal Techniques
VI. Recycle and Disposal Techniques
For Other Waste Oils 60
Industrial Lube Type Oils 60
Emulsified Oils 61
Other Petroleum-Based Industrial Oils 63
Waste Vegetable, Animal, and Fish
Fats and Oils 64
Oil/Water Mixtures from Marine Sources 66
VII. Foreign Waste Oil Disposal and
Recycle Techniques 67
Distillation 67
Solvent Extraction 67
Acid/Clay Treatment 67
Hydrogen Treatment 68
Industrial Waste Oils 68
vii
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Page
VIII. Environmental Assessment of Waste
Discharges From Processing of Waste
Oils 70
Waste Products Generated 70
Characterization of Wastewaters
From Oil Recycling Facilities 83
Existing and Future Regulations
Solid Wastes and Land Disposal 93
Water
Air
Disposal Techniques 97
Overall Assessment and Future
Considerations 107
IX. Waste Oil Surveys 109
Pittsburgh Area 109
Waste Oil Processors & Collectors 115
Industrial Waste Oils 124
X. References 129
x i. Appendices 138
A. A List of Re-Refiners And
Processors 139
B. Lubricating Oil Additives 144
C. Pittsburgh Survey Methodology
And Data 150
D. Waste Oil Collector And
Processor Survey Data 184
E. Industrial Survey 243
F. Waste Oil Material Balance
Methodology 289
G. Health and Safety Aspects of
Re-Refining Process Effluents 320
viii
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FIGURES
No. Page
1 Re—Refining By An Acid/Clay Process 35
2 Vacuum Distillation of Crankcase 39
Waste Oil
3 Re-Refining By A Propane Extraction 44
Process
4 Hydrotreating 47
5 Waste Oil Processor Oil—Water 84
Separator Unit
6 Waste Oil Re—Refining Process 86
F-i U. S. Crude Oil Distribution 290
F-2 Waste Oil Generation 291
F-3 Waste Oil Disposal 292
ix
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TABLES
No. Page
1 Assay of Automotive Crankcase Oils by
Esso 11
2 Assay of Crankcase Drain Oils From API 12
3 Typical Gasoline Engine Lubricating Oil
Ingredient Cost (1969) 14
4 Survey of Waste Oil Re—Refiners 29
5 Physical Properties of Vacuum Distillation
Fractions 40
6 Properties of Distilled Used Motor Oils 42
7 Distillation and Hydrogen Treatment of
Used Motor Oil 48
8 Survey of Crankcase Waste Oil Processes 52
9 Crankcase Waste Oil Processing Capital
Investment 53
10 Potential Profitability of Crankcase
Waste Oil Processes 54
11 Crankcase Waste Oil Process Operating 55
Costs 55
12 Types of Waste Treatment Employed by 108
Meat Packing and Processing Plants 65
13 The Treatment and Disposal of Waste Oils
and Waste Oil Residues 71
14 Acid Sludge Analysis 77
15 Acid Sludge Analysis 78
16 Physical Characteristics of Acid Sludge 79
17 Analysis of Petroleum Refining Spent
Contact Clays 80
x
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No. Page
18 Waste Oil Processor (Marine Waste Oils)
Oil/Water Separator 91
19 Waste Oil Re—Refiner 92
20 Sulfate Solubility and Environmental
Kazards of Acid Sludge Inorganics 99
21 National Sample Structure 116
22 Waste Oil Collection and Use 119
23 Treatment Processes Used 120
24 Types of Oils Produced by Processors 122
25 National Estimates 123
26 Generation and Destination of Waste Oil 128
C-i Oil Changes Done, All Vehicles 157
C-2 Oil Bought and Used For Oil Changes 158
C-3 Waste Available and Collected in Gallons
Per Year 159
D-1 Types of Waste Oil Collectors 187
D-2 Amounts of Waste Oil Collected From
Sources 189
D-3 Trucks and Truck Capacity 191
D-4 Collection Radius 193
D-5 Intra —and Inter-State Collection 195
D-6 Storage Facilities of Collectors 197
D-7 Users of Stored Waste Oil 199
D-8 Types of Waste Oil Processors 202
D-9 Amounts of Waste Oil Processed in 1973 204
xi
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No. Page
D-l0 Total Proce si g Capacity 206
D-il Estimated Processing (1973) Related To
Total Processing Capacity 208
D-12 Processing Treatments Used 210
D—13 Types of Processed Oils Produced 212
D-14 Methods of Disposing of Processing
Wastes 214
D-].5 Wastewater Treatment Metkods 216
D-16 Methods of Air Pollution Control 218
D-17 National Estimates of the Waste Oil
Industry 220
F-i Key to Sources of Data in Figures
F—i, F—2, F—3 293
F—2 Salient Statistics of Crude Petroleum,
Refined Products and Natural Gas
Liquids in U. S.-1971 Preliminary Data 295
F—3 Estimated Lubricating and Industrial
Oil Sales in the U. S. — 1970—71. 296
F-4 Estimated Marine Oil Spills — U. S. - 297
1972
F—5 Estimated Marine Oil Losses — U. S. -
1971 298
F-6 Estimate of Oil Losses and Spills on
Land, and Losses from Processing - 1971 301
F-7 Estimated Lube Oil Sales and Waste Oils
Generated At Automotive Service Centers
1970—1971 302
F-8 Estimate of Factors for Converting
Automotive Sales to Waste Oil Quantities 303
xii
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No. Page
F-9 Generation of Industrial Lubricating
Waste Oils 304
F-10 Generation of Other Industrial Waste
Oils 305
F—li Generation of U. S. Government Lubrication
Waste Oils 306
F-12 Consumption of Lubricating Oils - As
Lubricating Oil, Fuel, or Other Uses By
Original Purchaser/User 307
F-13 Waste Lubricating Oil Re-Refiners 1973
Production - RECON SYSTEMS Survey 308
F-14 Estimate of Feedstocks to Waste Lubricating
Oil Re—Refiners 311
F-15 Estimation of Total Feedstock to
Reprocessors 312
F-16 Estimation of Individual Feedstocks to
Waste Oil Processors 313
F-17 Destination of Spills and Losses 314
F-18 Estimation of Production of Waste Oil
Processors 315
F-19 Estimate of Destination of Industrial
Lubricating Waste Oils 316
F-20 Estimate of Destination of Other
Industrial Waste Oils 317
F-21 Estimate of Destination of Automotive
Lubricating Oils 318
F-22 Estimate of Waste Oil Potentially
Entering the Environment 319
xi ii
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Project Directors appreciate the efforts of the
many people who contrthuted directly or indirectly to this
work, including the RECON SYSTEMS and RESPONSE MJALYSIS
staffs, personnel of the U. S. Environmental Protection
Agency, and to those people in the waste oil and other
industries who patiently answered barrages of questions.
At the risk of overlooking several contributors, we
would particularly like to acknowledge the efforts of Mr.
Richard F. Toro in developing Sections VIII and X; Mr.
Edward Alper in helping to develop Section V; Mr. Robert
Wolfertz for his work in the industrial survey and waste-
water characterization; and Dr. Charanjit Rai and Mr.
Arthur T. Goding, Jr. in a variety of pertinent tasks.
For RESPONSE ANALYSIS, Dr. Michael A. Rappeport
directed the Pittsburgh survey, assisted by Miss Wendy
Jamieson. Mr. Leonard F. Newton was Project Director for
the collector and processor survey, with day—to—day
direction provided by Dr. Paul Scipione and Mr. Eugene
Heaton, statistical consultation by Miss Charlotte Slider
and Mr. Reuben Cohen, and supervision of interviewing by
MiSS Wendy Jaxnieson.
The work could not have been completed without the
tireless efforts of Mrs. Gladys Freeland, Mrs. Emily Dill,
and Miss Sunny Hancher.
The encouragement and particularly the understanding
of Mr. Leo McCarthy, the Project Officer, and Dr. Peter
B. Lederman, Director of the Industrial Waste Treatment
Research Laboratory in Edison, New Jersey, were vital
forces during the entire project.
xiv
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SECTION I
CONCLUS IONS
WASTE OIL QUANTITY
1. Insufficient information is available to
accurately estimate the total quantities of
waste oil generated, available for recycle, or
disposed of improperly.
2. Best approximations, based primarily on sales
figures, has produced the following estimates
for waste oil generation:
Millions of
Gal./Yr.
Automotive lubricating oil 616
Industrial & aviation lubricating oil 394
Other industrial oils 87
U.S. Government lubricating oil 18
Marine oil transportation losses
and spills 209
Other oil losses in production,
refining, transportation and use 1,156
Total for Petroleum 2,480
Oil and Fat Industry Losses 13
Coke Oven Oil Losses 6
2,499
3. The ultimate destination of these oils was
also deduced. from limited available survey
information:
1
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Millions of
Gal/Yr.
Directly to the environment 978
Processing wastes to the environment 72
Road oil, dust control, runoff, asphalt
leaching, land disposal, residue to
the environment 281
Sub-total-to the Environment 1,331
Directly for use as fuels 358
Use for processing plant fuels 149
Fuels sold by oil processors 621
Sub—total-Fuels 1,028
Road oil and dust control—rapid
biodegradation 38
Re—refined oil sales 83
Sub—total-Other 121
Total for Petroleum 2,1480
4. The 1,331 million gallons per year of oil which
may be reaching the environment represents 0.6%
of total crude oil, refined products and natural
gas liquids produced and imported (231 billion
gallons in 1971) . About half of these losses
to the environment was estimated to have come
from production; refining; transportation; and
use of oil--as spills; wastewater discharges;
land, ocean, and deepwell disposal of wastewater
treatment sludges and flocs, tank cleaning
residues, and coke; land spreading of contaminated
oils; evaporation; and other miscellaneous losses.
5. Less than 10% of the total potential lubricating
oils are recovered.
2
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WASTE OIL RECYCLE AND DISPOSAL
1. Fewer than Lb re—refiners producing lube oils
remain out of an industry that once numbered 150.
2. The single most difficult problem existing in the
re-refining industry today is inability to compete
for available crankcase drain oils and industrial
waste lubricating oils with fuel, road oil, and
dust control applications.
3. Acid/clay treatment, the most commonly used re-
refining process for lubricating waste oils, is
not an attractive approach for expanding the
re-refining industry because of its high cost
and because of undesirable waste products
produced.
Lb. The solvent extraction/acid/clay treatment process
is more attractive economically, but it also
produces waste products, though in smaller
quantities.
5. The distillation/clay process appears to be an
attractive approach to re—refining, though a more
detailed evaluation and additional development
work is required to assure product quality, reli-
able operation, and proper disposal of the
distillation bottoms product and spent clay.
6. The distillation/hydrogen treating process is the
only re-refining scheme available which holds
promise for economical vehicular waste oil recycle
without producing waste products, assuming that
distillation bottoms find an outlet in secondary
lead smelting.
7. Most re—refiners are so harassed by adverse
business conditions that they are unable to
finance necessary plant improvements.
8. In addition to the re—refining industry, a second
group of oilreclaimers, designated here as waste
oil processors, are engaged in converting waste
oils to fuels and other products.
9. Treatment systems used by waste oil processors
range from simple settling to filtration and to
distillation.
3
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10. With a few exceptions, the treatment systems used
by waste oil processors have very limited utility
in removing impurities such as lead particles, other
fine particulates, and polymer precursors.
11. Uncontrolled use of lead—containing vehicular waste
oils as a fuel is a poor approach to disposal be-
cause of lea6 and other fine particulate emissions,
and because of the loss of important natural re-
sources in short supply, namely lead and lubri-
cating oil stocks.
12. Uncontrolled burning of all waste automotive crank-
case oil (approximately 500 million gallons per
year) could result in as much as 40 million pounds
per year of lead entering the atmosphere as fine
particulates. This represents about 4% of U. S.
mine production.
13. The use of vehicular waste oils for dust control
and road oiling is wasteful and potentially harm-
ful to the environment.
14. An appreciable fraction of industrial waste oils
are purified and recycled to their original use.
15. A major fraction of industrial waste oils are used
as fuel at the point of generation, or converted
to fuel use by the collector.
16. A major fraction of industrial waste oils reach the
environment by consumption during use (oxidation,
vaporization), by land disposal, dust control uses,
and loss to wastewater effluents.
17. very few industrial concerns have records of the
ultimate disposal of wasts oils purchased.
18. The collection of waste oils from automotive
service stations, industrial plants, and other
points of generation is haphazard and inefficient.
19. Of the waste oil picked up by collectors, more than
one-half is used as or blended with fuels, with
little or no control of quality; major quantities
are used for road oiling and dust control, with
little or no environmental control; major quantities
are processed to lube oil and other products; and
unknown quantities enter the environment by dis-
posal on land, and loss to wastewater.
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF WASTE PRODUCTS
Insufficient information is available to fully evaluate
important aspects of environmental impact. Therefore, the
following conculsions should be considered as tentative.
1. Acid sludge, in the relatively small quantities
now produced by individual re-refiners (about
200-5000 gallons per day), can be disposed of
safely in landfills, if proper handling and
disposal practices are followed.
2. Disposal of spent clay, by re-refiners and others
recycling waste oil, in landfills does not appear
to present serious environmental problems if
proper practices are followed.
3. Wastewater quantities discharged by waste oil
re—refiners and reprocessors is generally small
but oil contamination problems are common.
4. Odor and other air pollution problems from waste
oil re—refiners and processors are generally
minor.
5. Water and air emissions can be adequately con-
trolled by existing technology.
5
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SECTION II
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. Federal and State governments should encourage
expansion of the re-refining industry to produce
lubricating oils from automotive and industrial
lubes. This can be accomplished by:
a. Controlling the use of lead-containing
oils as fuels, whether or not they are
diluted with other fuels, by specifying
that air pollution control devices be
provided to efficiently remove lead and
other particulates.
b. Requiring that all parties engaged in
the sale of oils at any level disclose
the source and characteristics of waste
oils, especially contents of lead or
other hazardous materials which may be
in the oil sold.
c. Establishing minimum specifications of
oils suitable for roads, dust control,
and asphalt, emphasizing lead content
and other environmental aspects. A
research program would be required to
establish these criteria.
d. Licensing all waste oil collectors,
processors, and waste disposal facilities;
and setting minimum standards of per-
formance, including requirements that
collectors dispose of waste oil to a
licensed processor, and that processors
dispose of wastes to a licensed waste
disposal facility.
e. Examining the implication of tax policies
for virgin lubricating oil sales versus
re—refined oil sales to at least eliminate
those policies which discourage oil recycle.
f. Requiring that all retail establishments
selling lubricating oils provide a waste
oil disposal facility.
6
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g. Requiring that all establishments which
purchase more than 500 gallons per year
of lubricating oils provide a suitable
segregated disposal facility for the waste
oil or obtain an exemption on the grounds
that waste oils are not produced.
h. Encouraging governmental use of re-refined
oils, including the performance of engine
tests when such tests are required to
meet product specifications. The re-refiner
should perform standard chemical and physical
tests on oils at his own expense.
i. Recognizing that the re-refiner is an
essential element in pollution control
programs by allowing him access to funding
with tax—free pollution control revenue
bonds, and by encouraging Small Business
Administration support where applicable.
j. Allowing the use of the description
“recycled oil” on lubricating oil con-
tainers, along with a definition of that
term.
k. Specifying minimum size storage tanks
for waste oils in service stations
(approximately 500 gallons would be
suitable).
1. Supporting research and development and
grant programs to improve re-refining
and waste disposal technology.
2. Federal and State governments should also en-
courage the expansion of a processing industry
which handles industrial, marine, and other
waste oils which are not of the lubricating
type by:
a. Requiring that adequate records of purchase,
recycle, and disposal be kept.
b. Requiring adequate waste oil segregation
when large quantities are involved.
c. Requiring disclosure of oil composition
with respect to hazardous materials when
oil sales or other oil transfers are made.
7
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d. Licensing collectors, processors, and
waste oil disposal facilities.
e. Encouraging govermiental use of re-
processed oils.
f. Allowing the processor access to funding
with tax—free pollution control revenue
bonds, and by encouraging Small Business
Administration support where applicable.
g. Supporting research and development and
grant programs to characterize industrial
oils and to develop improved recycle and
disposal techniques.
3. A few specific research and development programs
which appear to merit Federal support, in ad-
dition to those previously mentioned, are:
a. The chemical and physical characterization
of acid sludge, spent clay and other waste to
aid the assessment of environmental impract.
b. Studies of the effect of the above wastes
in landfills.
c. Completion of the development of a vacuum
distillation/hydrogen treatment process
for re-refining, include the use of dis-
tillation bottoms in secondary lead
smelting.
d. Investigation of the use of crankcase
waste oil and other waste oils as chemi-
cal raw materials.
e. Work to improve oil recovery from marine
transportation and oil spill wastes, and
to clean up the resulting wastewater.
8
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SECTION III
INTRODUCTION
The non-polluting disposal of waste oils in the United
States is a problem of enormous complexity because it in-
volves not only the hundreds of thousands of establishments
using fuels and lubricants, but also the hundred million
vehicles and over 400,000 service stations, garages, and
auto dealers which service these vehicles. Little quanti-
tative information is 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; or of waste oils
from other sources such as animal, fish, and vegetable oils
and fats, and coking ovens.
A waste oil re-refining industry has existed in the
U. S. for many years, converting waste lubricating oils to
usable lubricants. However, In recent years the number of
re-refiners has decreased from about 150 to less than 40.
This fact has caused concern as to the disposition of waste
oils. /
Less is known about another group of oil reclaiming
concerns, most of which convert a variety of waste oils to
fuels. For purposes of this report, these concerns are
called waste oil processors, although this description some-
times refers to all oil reclaimers.
Information has been developed on quantities of waste
oils, current and potential recycle and disposal methods,
and the environmental impace of these methods. To assess
current disposal techniques, over 150 re—refiners, processors,
collectors, and industrial organizations were surveyed, many
by plant visits.
Literature information and the Contractor’s background
in petroleum refining and environmental problems provided
the primary basis for assessing processes with potential for
waste oil re—refining, and for the environmental assessment
of waste discharges.
Preliminary waste oil material balances were made with the
aid of data collected and previous surveys reported in the
literature.
9
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SECTION IV
CLASSIFICATION OF WASTE OILS
In order to consider waste oil recycling and disposal,
it is important to understand the wide variety of sources
and of composition. Waste oils are classified hera pri-
marily by point of generation, a system which closely
parallels data available on oil sales. Each waste oil
classification is briefly discussed, providing data on com-
position, volumes, and present recycle and disposal methods.
Waste oil volumes discussed here are developed in Section X.
AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE CENTERS
This classification includes service stations, garages,
new car dealers, other retail establishments, and auto-
motive fleet service areas where used oils are drained from
crankcases of automobiles and some trucks. The drain oils
are generally collected in underground tanks having capaci-
ties in excess of 500 gallons, but occasionally above ground
in drums or other containers. The drain oils consist pri-
marily of crankcase waste oils (greater than 90%), but also
include waste transmission fluids, gear lubricants, hydraulic
oils, and minor amounts of kerosene and other solvents used
in service areas. Some oil is disposed of to solid waste
collection with the discard of oil filters.
Sales of lubricating oils by automotive service centers
has been estimated to be 658 million gallons per year as
shown in Table F-7. After correcting for factory
fills and waste oils originating in discount store sales,
about 500 million gallons per year of waste oil are esti-
mated as generated in automotive service centers. This is
the largest relatively uniform source of waste oil avail-
able for recycling.
Typical compositions of drain oil are shown in Tables
1 and 2. The most pertinent features of this oil with re-
gard to recycle and disposal problems, are flash point, and
water, sediment, ash, nitrogen, and oxygen contents. Many
of the impurities are emulsified and very difficult to
remove. The stability of the emulsions is enhanced by ad-
ditives in the original lubricating oil. The drain oils
are normally somewhat acidic in nature.
Water content is generally about 3-5%, but may range
from less than 1% to 10% or more. Some water results from
gasoline combustion, but the very high water contents prob-
10
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H
H
Table 1.
CRANKCASE
ASSAY OF AUTOMOTIVE
DRAIN OILS BY ESSO’
Test
New York
California
Texas(A)
Texas(B)
New Jersey
Flash, COC, 0 F. * . .
360
325
340
350
400
Vis @ 100°F, SSU. .
319
441
404
494
549
Vis @ 210°F, SSU. .
59.6
71.2
69.6
70.0
95.8
Viscosity index...
141
149
156
127
196
Grav.,°API
24.4
23.1
24.6
23.3
22.0
Rob. color
Black
Black
Black
Black
Black
Pour point, 0 F....
<-35
.-35
(-45
<—35
<-30
Neut. No
7.31
4.33
4.36
6.10
5.52
Con. carbon
5.20
4.68
3.80
4.93
5.06
XE’ water, %
0.11
0.26
0.44
0.051
0.41
Water by dist., %.
0.4
0.6
0.1
0.8
Nitrogen, wt. %.. .
0.16
0.21
0.13
0.13
0.17
Sulfur, wt. %
0.32
0.31
0.30
0.26
0.28
Oxygen, wt. %
1.36
1.80
1.83
1.44
2.25
Zinc, wt. %
0.098
0.069
0.084
0.085
0.067
Lead, wt. %
1.8,1.5
1.5
1.1,1.5 1.4
2.2
Vac. dist., 0 F @ 10mm
absolute
5—10%
430—452
402—448
430—460
465—485
455—468
20—30
470—483
480—497
483—503
503—524
496—509
40—50
495—506
517—537
523—538
544—565
520--535
60—70
520—535
558—586
560—586
588—618
553—566
80—90
550—?
624—?
622—?
6 3—?
580—?
Cracked @, 0 F
558
648
652
686
590
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I’J
Table 2. ASSAY OF CRANKCASE
DRAIN OILS FROM API 1
Mobil
burning tests
Staten Is.,NY
Exxon
burning tests
Sewell’s Point,VA
Shell
burning tests
Wood River,ILL
Gulf
burning tests
Gulf R&D Co.
Flash point, OF..
215
350—400
175
218
Vis. @ 100°F,
SSU .....
248
268
148.3
256
Vis. @ 210°F,
SSU. . . . . . .
56.4
60.1
Viscosity index..
166
.......
Gravity, °API....
24.6
26.0
27.3
25.0
Ash..............
1.81
1.80
1.02
2.41
Water , vol . % . . . .
4 . 4
. . . . . . .
2 . 8
. . . . .
BS &W , vol . . . . . .
0 . 6
. . . . . . .
3 . 8
. . . . .
Sulfur,wt.%....
0.34
•••••..
0.29
0.21
Metals, wt. %
Lead . . . . . . . . . . .
1 . 1 1
0 . 9 0
0 . 7 2
. . . . . .
z inc . . . . . . . . . . .
0 . 08
0 . 07
0 . 035
. . . . . .
Barium.........
0.06
0.10
0.01
Calcium.
0.17
0.10
0.15
Phosphorous....
0.09
0.11
0.055
Iron...........
0.036
0.02
0.009
-------
ably reflect accidental contamination in holding tanks.
Gasoline dilution of the crankcase oil, usually in the range
of 1-10%, lowers the flash point of the drain oil to abotit
200-400°F, though lower values are sometimes encountered.
Sediment and ash in the drain oil reflect oil additive
residues, carbonaceous and metallic fines, and also gasoline
additive residues, the most notable being lead and other
metallic compounds, but including bromides and chlorides
introduced as scavengers. Lead contents of 0.5 to over 2%
are commonly reported, but this is expected to decrease as
leaded gasolines sales decline.
Additives are present in the original lubricating oils
in concentrations ranging from 0 to about 20%. A typical
blend is shown in Table 3. The wide variety of potential
additives is indicated in Appendix B. The organic portion
of these additives may be susceptible to losses, combustion,
and reactions such as occur with the lube oil. However, the
inorganics concentrate in the crankcase as oil losses occur
and makeup is added. As judged by the typically high vis-
cosity index of drain oil (usually greater than 90), and
topped drain oil, a significant amount of the polyisobutylene
and polymethacrylate additives remains relatively unchanged.
The oxygen and nitrogen contents of the oils reflect
not only additives but also products formed by the reaction
of blowby engine combustion gases with the lubricating oil
at engine temperatures. These reaction products tend to be
unstable, producing color and odor problems, and fouling of
equipment during processing.
Most of the automotive service center drain oils are
collected by independent collectors and by waste oil pro-
cessors with collection systems. For example, a study in
the state of Massachusetts reports that 88% of service sta-
tion waste oil is collected, ranging from 95% to the metro-
politan Boston area to less than 70% in rural communities. 2
About 88% of car dealer and garage waste oil was also col-
lected, but only about 60% of fleet operator waste oils was
estimated as being collected. Our own studies in the Pitts-
burgh area were consistent with the Massachusetts results.
Neither area has an operating re-refiner. Our collector
survey showed that the collected drain oils are disposed of
as follows:
Re-refining to make lubricating oils
Processing to prepare fuel oils
13
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TABLE 3. TYPICAL GASOLINE ENGINE
LUBRICATING OIL INGREDIENT COST (1969)
COMPONENT COST
INGREDIENT ____ COST $/GAL. ‘ /GAL.LUBE
1. Base 011 86 0.20 17.2
(Solvent 150 Neutral)
2. Detergent Inhibitor 1 2.60 2.6
(ZDDP-zinc dialkyl
dithiophosphates)
3. Detergent 4 2.00 8.0
(barium and calcium
sulfonates)
4. Multi—functional 4 2.00 8.0
Additive (dispersant,
pour—depressant, VI
improver-polymethyl -
methacrylates)
5. VI Improver 5 0.72 3.6
(polyisobutylene)
100 39.4
14
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Processing to prepare process oils such as
asphalt flux oil, form oil, and other oils
Direct use as a fuel by blending with other
fuels
Road oils
Dust and weed control oils
Little, if any, collected oil is now being disposed of
directly to dumps, wells, or surface waters, though some
processing wastes and much of the uncollected oil is dis-
posed of in these ways.
THE DO-IT-YOURSELF MARKET
Considerable lubricating oil is purchased in retail
stores by the individual automobile owner both for makeup
and changing purposes. The quantity purchased has been
estimated to be 168 million gallons per year, with 106
million gallons of waste oil generated (Tables F-7 and F-B).
Allowing for 37 million gallons per year of drain oil re-
turned to service stations, 69 million gallons per year are
disposed of onto the ground, into garbage cans (most of which
ends up in the ground), into storm sewers, into toilets and
sinks, etc.
The composition of drain oil in the do-it-yourself
market should be similar to that reported for automotive
service centers, except that the small amounts of trans-
mission oil, gear oil, etc. may not appear.
COMMERCIAL ENGINE FLEETS
It is estimated that about 200 million gallons per year
of lubricating oils are sold to commercial fleets, primarily
trucks and construction equipment. Most such vehicles use
diesel or gasoline engines.
Diesel engine drain oils are similar to those described
previously for gasoline engines, except that lead content
is almost negligible. Flash point may be somewhat higher
because dilution is by diesel oil rather than the more
volatile gasoline.
Very little information is now available on the quanti-
ties of waste oil generated by servicing of commercial fleets.
Much of the waste oil generated is believed to be used for
fuel and dust control. Assuming 50% of sales are generated
15
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as waste oil available for collection, about 100 million
gallons per year is available for external processing.
The collected oils can be disposed of in the ways
already discussed for automotive service centers.
RAILROAD SERVICE CENTERS
Diesel engines are the prime means of locomo Lion in the
railroad industry. Railroad diesel engine lubes are usually
isolated from other oils when drained. Much of this oil is
shipped to re—refining centers for processing, arid returned
as usable diesel engine lubricating oil.
Sixty million gallons of railroad diesel lubricating
oils are purchased annually. All or almost all of this oil
is blended from virgin stocks. We have estimated from
interviews with re—refiners that about 5-10 million gallons
per year of re-refined oil is returned to the railroads.
This recycle quantity was probably much higher in earlier
years, but several re—refiners controlled by the railroads
or heavily in railroad diesel lube re-refining have been
shut down. These figures do not include journal box oils.
Assuming 7 million gallons per year of re-refined rail-
road diesel lubes at a 70% yield, indicates that about 10
million gallons per year of drain oil was recycled by the
railroads. For 60 + 7 = 67 million gallons per year of oil
used and 63% recovery, 42 million gallons per year of rail-
road diesel oil is drained, with 10 million gallons to re-
refining and 32 million gallons disposed of in other ways.
The possibilities are:
Internal use as fuel
Internal use for dust control
Internal use for non-critical lubricating
purposes, perhaps journal boxes
Sale for the above purposes
Dumping
As with commercial fleets, little information is avail-
able on the composition of railroad diesel drain oils.
Compositions are expected to be similar to those reported
here for automotive oils, except lead content will be
negligible and flash point may average a bit higher. It
should be understood that elemental analysis of the ash will
16
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vary from oil to oil depending upon the exact nature of the
oil and fuel additive packages, and the type of metal sur-
faces encountered in the engine.
17
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AVIATION SERVICE CENTERS
The aviation industry, including both commercial and
private aviation, is an important user of petroleum—based
fuels and lubricants. Fueling is performed primarily at
airports; servicing is performed both at airports and at
central maintenance centers.
Major Commercial Airports
Waste oil generation at major airports is likely to in-
clude the following:
— jet fuel drained from aircraft. This is
a very minor quantity which finds its way
to fuel usage.
— aircraft sumping, i.e., water removal from
sumps. This becomes a minor constituent
in the airport wastewater system.
- loading facility spills. These occur but
are not predictable. Some oil may be
picked up, but oil is also flushed to
sewers.
— draining of petroleum based engine and
transmission lubricants, primarily from
ground support equipment. These are
generally stored and picked up by a
collector.
— synthetic lubricants (e.g., phosphate ester
base). These are filtered and reused as
long as they meet specific gravity, viscosity,
acid number, and water specifications. When
not reusable, the synthetic lubricants are
returned to the manufacturer for reclaiming.
— aircraft exterior and ground support
equipment washing. Mixtures of dirt, oil,
detergent, and water discharged to wastewater
s y stern.
- deicing fluids, e.g., ethylene glycol.
Found in cold weather airports. Generally
washed off into storm water sewers.
18
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— other ramp area contaminants, including
aircraft and ground vehicle leaks and
spills. Generally washed off into storm
water sewers.
A significant quantity of waste oils and other compounds do
appear in airport wastewater and storm water sewers. These
may reach surface waters, depending upon the effectiveness
of treatment which is known to be inadequate in many airports,
especially with regard to storm waters.
Central Aviation Maintenance Centers
The major portion of waste oily materials associated
with commercial airlines are generated at central service
centers, e.g. the Delta Jet Maintenance Base at the Atlanta,
Georgia International Airport, 3 the TWA overhaul base in
Kansas. These service centers have comprehensive treating
facilities which include segregated oily waste treatment.
The oily wastes come from engine overhaul, airframe overhaul,
testing, and ground support equipment. Included in this
waste are oils, paints, paint strippers, solvents, degreasers,
washdown waters, plating wastes, etc. Some oil is separated
easily; other oil is emulsified and difficult to separate.
Private Airports
Little is known about oil disposal in the many private
airports in the U. S. However, it may be assumed that some
airports utilize waste oil storage and collection, while
others, because of their very nature, practice dust and weed
control or dumping.
The quantities of industrial type waste oil generated
are covered in our estimates for other categories. An ad-
ditional quantity of petroleum base waste oil from the 8
million gallons per year sold as airplane lubricants should
be added to these estimates; probably not more than 4 million
gallons per year. These have compositions similar to previ-
ously described lubricating oils.
THE METAL INDUSTRY
Many types of lubricating and cutting oils, ranging from
100% oil to low concentrations of oil in water emulsions are
used in metalworking for lubrication of moving parts and for
fabrication or working of metals. Oily materials are added
to various points in operations to help shape or form metals,
to cool both tools and the metal worked, and to lubricate
19
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machinery. Typical operations are rolling, drawing, ex-
trusion, and machining.
As an example, in cold rolling, the steel is usually
oiled as it leaves the last wash after pickling. This
reduces rusting arid acts as a lubricant in the first—stand
reduction. Additional fluids, usually emulsions of oils,
fats, and/or fatty acids in water, are applied in subse-
quent reductions to cool the rolls or lubricate the strip
and, sometimes, the roll bearings. Oil rates of several
thousand gallons per minute may be used. Recirculation of
the rolling oil emulsion through a treatment plant is
practiced, but losses occur, ending up in wastewater; and
the recirculated lubricant must also be drained and changed
periodically as impurities, such as suspended solids, build
up and degradation occurs.
Recovery of oil from the “soluble” oil emulsion is much
more difficult than the recovery of ordinary uncompounded
lubricating oils. This is true, first, because the emulsion
must be broken with the aid of chemicals, and second, because
soluble oils often contain ingredients such as fatty oils
(e.g. lard, tallow, rapeseed, castor, sperm), and compounds
formed by chlorination and sulfurization, in addition to
other additives. The oil may be diluted to 5:100 parts of
water, but occasionally to even 1:100 parts of water. The
sulfurized/chlorinated oils are particularly useful for
heavy—duty or extreme pressure applications such as pipe
threading, automatic screw machines, and heavy duty drilling.
In large metal fabricating plants, even where extensive
recycling is practiced, relatively large quantities of waste
oil are generated. The waste oils may be segregated, for
example after draining hydraulic or lubricating systems, but
more often the oils are all released to a wastewater treat-
ment plant. Here, a major portion of the oils are usually
recovered in a concentrated but contaminated form by skimming,
while the remaining oils enter the environment by disposal of
sludges or floes separated from the water before or after
treatment, or as suspended oil remaining in the treated waste—
water stream. Relatively large quantities of oil also appear
with scale, shavings, and other solid wastes.
Based on very limited data from Maryland, 5 it has been
estimated that perhaps 100 million gallons of waste oil is
generated nationally for possible recycle or alternative uses
out of 150 million gallons per year sold as metal-working oils.
Much of this oil is incinerated, and some is reprocessed for
fuel and other uses.
20
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PROCESS OIL CONSUMERS
The process oil consumers by definition do not generate
large quantities of waste oil, since most of the oil be—
comes an integral part of the product produced. For example,
process oils made from lube stocks for rubber, ink, textiles,
and agricultural sprays, and other uses totaled more than
300 million gallons in 1970. Forty to fifty percent of this
quantity was consumed in the rubber industry for plastic!—
zation, reinforcement, and extension. 6 Each process use has
its own specifications, but many require oils similar to
lube stocks. Some other process oils, defined by the U. S.
Census Bureau as having a viscosity of more than 45 Saybolt
seconds at 100°F, include 7 :
Absorbent oils
Apron dressings
Belt dressings
Brick oils
Cable oils
Coal spray oils
Cordage oils
Defoamants
Flotation oils
Farm oils and compounds
Fruit and vegetable preservatives
Launching grease base and slip coats
Paint and putty oils
Paper processing oils
Petroleum sulfonates
Polishing oils
Rust preventative oils and compounds
Tanners products
White oils
Spillage and other losses are the only normal sources of
waste oil from most of the process oils. However, a few
process oils, such as flotation oils, do require discard,
generating waste oils.
No data are presently available, but a reasonable
estimate based on our analysis of a survey in Maryland 5 is
that 5-15% of process oils result in waste oil generation.
Of course, it should be recognized that process oils do
enter the environment directly in a variety of ways; for
example, as a liquid when using agricultural sprays for
weed control, evaporation from inks, and disDosal of waste
rubber products by incineration.
21
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OTHER INDUSTRIAL OILS (Lubricating and Non-Lubricating)
Included in this general category for purposes of this
report are all industrial oils, other than those mentioned
in the preceding sections, which have as their source
lubricating oil stocks sold to industry. These include:
Turbine oils
Gas engine oils
Transformer oils
Refrigeration oils
Heat transfer oils
Hydraulic oils
The total in this category sold to industry is close
to 600 million gallons per year including 325 million gallons
hydraulic and circulating system oils (refrigeration, heat
transfer, other). Additional breakdown, where available, is
given in Tables F-9 and F—l0. Internal recycling is prac-
ticed by some companies for some of these oils; for example,
transformer, turbine, and hydraulic oils. Others, such as
gas engine oils, become waste oils when drained. In any
case, even where internal recycling is practiced, a major
portion of the oils purchased eventually leaves its indus-
trial use as waste oil. Estimates for waste oil generated
are also given in Tables F-9 and F-lO.
Most of the waste oils available have compositions
similar to the original product but with impurities such as
fine suspended dust and metal particles, and oxidation and
decomposition products. However, waste oil picked up from
industrial plants may be mixtures of oil types, and may be
contaminated with synthetic oils, solvents, polychiorinated
heat transfer and transformer oils, etc.
Some industrial oil wastes are re—refined and sold or
returned to the original user, i.e., in a closed loop system.
Others are internally disposed of, e.g. as fuel, by incine-
ration, or for alternative non-critical uses, such as oiling
belt conveyors and dust control.
22
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MARINE TRANSPORTATION WASTE OILS
Huge quantities of crude petroleum and refined products
are transported by tanker, barqe, and pipeline into and out
of refineries and terminals in the U. S. Included are about
60 billion gallons per year imported (1971), over 3 billion
gallons exported, and even larger quantities moving in
coastal, lake, canal, and river commerce. This transporta—
tion results in waste oil generation from spills, bilge and
ballast waters, and tanker washinc . Each of these are dis-
cussed briefly below. Further detail on the quantities in-
volved are presented in Tables F—4 and F-5.
Oil Spills
Marine oil spills obviously can vary greatly from year
to year. Even one major tanker mishap can affect such sta—
tistics. However, normal spillaqe alonq the U. S. Coast
accounts for only a small fraction of the total waste oil
generated. For example, spills in 1972 are believed to have
been on the order of 20 million gallons. Waste oil actually
recovered from these spills would be even smaller, probably
less than 5 million gallons.
The composition of the waste oil obviously depends
primarily upon the nature of the product, ranging from
crude oil to gasoline. Lighter fractions, such as gasoline,
if spilled, would evaporate and not be recovered as waste
oil. Composition of the waste oil recovered also depends
upon the nature of the waterway, the type of recovery used,
and materials added to aid in recovery or dispersion. For
example, recovered liquids can be very high in salt water
content, and can even contain materials such as straw used
to aid in recovery.
Some oils recovered from spills have been disposed of
by landfill. Incineration and processing to product useful
fuels are other disposal possibilities, but facilities which
can handle recovered oils without producing polluting air
or water emissions are usually not available where needed.
Ballast Wastewater
Water used as ballast must be discharged from tanker
oil storage tanks at oil distribution terminals or at sea
before taking on a fresh load. This wastewater contains
from 0.1 to 2% oil. Assuming an average of 1.25% oil,
145 million gallons per year of waste oil is potentially
available from an estimated 11.6 billion gallons per year
23
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of ballast water, most of which is still dumped at sea.
Proper ballast wastewater treatment, where practiced,
consists of a separator to recover the bulk of the free oil,
followed by other methods such as air flotation and bio-
logical treatment. Onshore ballast treatment makes 90-95%
of the ballast wastewater oil available as contaminated oil
for subseauent processing to fuel or other uses.
Bilge Wastewater
Wastewater collected in a shiD’s bilge will often be
contaminated by concentrations of oil similar to that in
ballast wastewater. Assuming an average of 1% oil, 11
million gallons per year of waste oil is potentially avail-
able from an estimated 1.1 billion gallons per year of bilge
wastewater. 8
This water can be treated similarly to ballast waste-
water, or mixed with the ballast wastewater for common
treatment.
Tanker Washings
Tanker and barge washing is important, especially when
changing products to be transported. Assuming an average
of 10% oil, 9 31 million gallons per year of oil is poten-
tially available from an estimated 313 million gallons per
year of tanker washings. 8 Washing is sometimes done at sea,
at the oil terminal, or at independent facilities. Here
too, oil recovery and water disposal is similar to that
described for ballast wastewater.
INDUSTRIAL PROCESS WASTE OILS
The waste oils considered here are those which emanate
from industrial processes such as petroleum refining, petro--
chemicals, meat processing, vegetable oil production, wool
processing, and coke manufacture. Unlike many of the waste
oils discussed earlier, the quantities of process waste oils
are not readily estimated from sales, since they represent
waste products generated during processing.
Petroleum Industry
Refining crude oil and producing petrochemicals may
result in losses from about 0.1 to 2% of the total pro-
cessed. G Modern well operated refineries are expected to
keep these losses to under 0.5%. This consists of con—
24
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taminated waste oil; tank cleaning residues; evaporation;
losses to discharged process, cooling and runoff water;
and losses to liquid and solid wastes, including water
treatment sludge and floc, and acid and caustic sludges.
Refineries do practice recycle of waste oils, using “slop
storage tanks and sometimes special rerun towers for oil
recovery. The quantities involved are normally well under
1% of refinery throughput, perhaps as little as 0.1%. The
largest single source of oil actually lost in refineries
is evaporation from tanks, valves, flanges, and the like.
This quantity may reach or exceed 0.4%.
However, in addition to losses in the refinery itself,
considerable additional losses may occur during production
on land and offshore, during overland and inland trans—
portation (e.g., pipelines, trucks, barges), during transfers
and storage at terminals and bulk plants, during conversion
to petrochemicals, and during storage and use by the ulti-
mate fuel users. Data obtained from various companies
engaged in the petroleum industry and from petroleum users
make it seem likely that 0.5% of petroleum liquids or more,
excluding refinery evaporative losses, are effectively lost
to the industr and to users. Based on 1971 statistics
shown in Table F-Z, this amounts to 1156 million gallons per
year.
Spills of volatile hydrocarbons, such as gasoline
fractions, land spills, discharge of wastewaters, and oil—
containing sludge disposal results in almost complete un-
availability of lost oil for recycle. However, tank clean-
ing, recovery from wastewater in oil/water separators, and
other loss modes do result in a major portion of the esti-
mated loss being available for recycle.
Although firm data is not available, an estimate of
50% of oil lost directly to the environment via wastewater,
disposal of liquids and sludges on the land and in deep wells,
and evaporation outside of the refinery appears reasonable.
The balance then, 578 million gallons per year, is theo-
retically recoverable waste oil. Some of this is recovered
and used for fuel and road oil, some is incinerated, and
some may be disposed of in other ways. The composition
obviously depends on the source and history of the waste
oil.
Oil and Fat Industry
Fats and oils may be classified as vegetable oils,
animal fats and oils, and fish oils. These are mixtures of
25
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the glycerides of various fatty acids. Some vegetable and
animal waxes, which are mixed fatty acid esters of poiv-
hydric alcohols other than glycerol, might also be included
in this discussion. The distinction between fats and oils
is merely melting point, oils being liquids at or near
ordinary ambient temperatures. Fatty acids in oils are
more unsaturated than in fats.
About 24 billion pounds per year of fats and oils were
produced in the U. S. in 1969.’’ Vegetable oils are re-
covered by expression or solvent extraction followed by
extensive refining. Animal fats and oils and fish oils are
recovered by rendering and other cooking processes followed
by centrifugation and other separation and purification
steps. Vegetable oil yields range from about 5-60% depend-
ing on the source, for example about 15—18% from cottonseed
and soybeans, 34% yield of linseed oil from flaxseed, and
45—50% from shelled peanuts.’ 2 Fish oil yield is on the
order of 20%.12 The residual meals or cakes, usually con-
taining some oil, are commonly used for animal feed, and in
some instances for human consumption, fertilizers, and
industrial uses. Many important byproducts are recovered
during fat and oil production.
The most important uses are in foods, soaps, paint,
varnish, and resins. Other important uses for fats and
oils and their derivatives are lubrication and hydraulic
oils, medicinal oils, plasticizers, wetting agents, and
detergents. Waxes are used for polishes, candles, elec-
trical insulation, waterproofing, phonograph records, and
a variety of other uses.
Almost all of the fats and oils produced are consumed,
finally appearing in the environment as human waste, soaps
in water, and coatings on solid waste. However, as with
petroleum, the production, transportation, and use of fats
and oils and their raw materials and oily products do pro-
duce oily wastes, usually as a low concentration contarni—
nation in wastewaters. About 1% of the total fats and oils
are recovered as “waste” materials and sold for use in non-
critical applications, for example soap manufacture, at a
price of 3-15 cents per pound, depending on quality. An-
other 0.5% may be lost with wastewaters and wa tewater
sludges, incinerated, collected with other solid wastes for
disposal, or collected from retail establishments, such as
restaurants, by tallow collectors. This 0.5% amounts to
about 13 million gallons per year.
26
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Coking Ovens
Another important source of oils is the coking, or
pyrolysis, of coals. The coke is used in blast furnaces
for pig iron production and for other metallurgical purposes.
Coking, as usually practiced in the U. S., yields about 2-4
gallons of light oil and 8—12 gallons of coal tar per ton
of coal. Based on 90 million tons of coking coal, about 270
million gallons of light oil and 900 million gallons of coal
tar are produced in this way. The coal tar is usually dis-
tilled to produce additional light oil, heavier oils, and
pitch. Each of the oil products can be further processed
to produce valuable products such as benzene, toluene,
xyienes, pyridines, phenols, creosols, naphthalenes,
anthracenes, and fuel oils.’ 2
Some of the oils appear in steel plant wastewaters.
Others appear as wastes, as with petroleum, in trans-’
portation and usage. If 0.5% waste oil is generated here
also, this would produce about 6 million gallons per year
of waste oil.
SYNTHETIC OILS
Although still a small industry, increasing amounts of
synthetic oil are manufactured and used for special lubri—
cation problems, for example, very low temperatures, very
high temperatures, and other severe services, such as jet
aircraft. Some of the synthetic oils in use are polymers
of olefinic hydrocarbons (e.g. polyisobutylene VI improver),
polyalkylene glycols and perfluorinated polyalkylene glycols,
synthetic esters (e.g. phosphate and dibasic acid esters),
silicone oils, halogenated hydrocarbons, and polyphenyl
ethers. 1 3
Waste synthetic oils should be segregated and recycled
where possible, because of their high cost, and because
they may contaminate otherwise recyclable oils. This has
already been discussed with respect to use in aircraft. Some
synthetic oil manufacturers do accept synthetic waste oils
for reprocessing.
27
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SECTION V
RECYCLE AND DISPOSAL TECHNIQUES
FOR VEHICULAR WASTE OILS
The recycling of crankcase drain oils has reached a
critical juncture. On one hand, increasing pressure which
would lead to the use of every available combustible mate-
rial as fuel is everywhere evident. On the other hand, the
desire to conserve natural resources and the environment
requires that every consideration be given to the possi-
bilities of re-refining drain oil to lube oil base stocks.
For many years a group of 150 or more small business-
men, called re—refiners, provided a means for recycling
substantial amounts of crankcase drain oil and other waste
lubricating oils back to the public and to industry in the
form of bulk or packaged lubricating oils. This group has
now shrunk to less than 40, leaving behind the question as
to the ultimate destinations of the oil which used to be
re—refined. Some of these destinations are discussed else-
where in the report. They include road oiling and dust
control which leads to runoff and land and water pollution;
use as a low sulfur fuel, which leads to contaminant metal
particulate emissions to the air (largely lead from crank-
case oils) and heat exchanger tube fouling; and dumping.
The reasons for the decline of the re—refining industry
have been thoroughly discussed elsewhere.’ The problems
are complex and manifold, related to taxes, labeling regu-
lations, fewer oil changes, increased use of oil additives,
some government specifications which prohibit recycled oil,
competition from fuel and road oiling dealers, and out-
dated technology.
The following discussion deals primarily with the
problem of technology and current re—refining processes,
which produce waste products difficult and expensive to
dispose of according to the rigorous standards which are
being imposed today.
CURRENT PROCESSES FOR RE-REFINING LUBE OILS
A summary of 35 waste oil recycling operations is pre-
sented in Table 4. The data is based on visits with 30
companies and other information obtained by telephone. A
list of re—refining companies is presented as Appendix A.
28
-------
Table 4. SURVEY OF WASTE OIL RE-REFINERS
COMPANY
PROCESS
ACID CLAY’ OTHER
PRODUCT
CAPACITY, GPD
DESICN OPERATING
CRANKCASE
OIL
SOURCES OF
R1 DIESEL
XX -
X -
FEED
INDUSTRIAL
OILS
MAJOR
MINOR
OTHER
PRODUCTS
LUBE &
TRANSMISSION
OILS OTHER
COMMENT
x
x
x
x
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
I’J
10,000
25,000
24,000
20,000
25,000
40,000
7,000
10,000
12,000
8,000
20,000
6,500
2 5,000
xx
xx
xx
xx (70%)
xx
xx
xx
uel oil
(10%)
;ear oil,
ompressor
il
‘enetrating
i1s
Tournal box
)i l
x (20%)
x
x
x
x
Experimenting
with acid sludge
lime mixture for
disposal as
powdered sludge
Propane extrac-
tion (inactive)
xx
xx
xx
x
xx
xx
xx
l 1
types of
aste
oils
Caustic
soda/
silicate
P re -
treat-
ment of
feed &
distil—
lation
-------
Table 4.
SURVEY OF WASTE OIL RE-REFINERS (Continued)
x
x
COMPANY
PROCESS
ACID CLAY• OTHER
CAPACITY, GPD
CRANKCASE
OIL —
SOURCES OF
XX • MAJOR
X - MINOR
FEED
INDUSTRIAL
OILS OTHER
PRODUCTS
LUBE
TRANSMISSION
OILS OTHER
COMMENTS
RP DIESEL
DESIGN
OPERATING
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
‘3.
14.
0
8,300
2,500
45—
90,000
25,000
8,30
26,00
x
x
x
x
Caus tic
pre-
treat-
ment
Not apeci
fled
Mul.tiatag
Cont inuo a
distn.
5,200
1,800
20—
30,000
(fuel)
2,000
(lub. oil)
2,000
8,300
12,000
12,000
‘ cx
xx
x
xx
xx
xx
x
animal
oils
x
xx
xx
x
Industrial
oil (60%)
uel (90%)
ydraulic
oil,
Lach inery
ubr icants
uel (minor)
ndustri al
us, trans
155 ion oili
achinery
ubricants
ephalt flu
oil
xx
xx
x (10%)
xx
xx
xx
x
1.5 nun gal.
storage
capacity
1anning to
stop lube oil
)rocessing
>lans 25%
xpansion
2,000,000 gal
storage capa-
city
Planning
nodernization
-------
Table 4. SURVEY OF WASTE OIL RE-REFINERS (Continued)
COMPANY ACID
PROCESS
CLAY OTHER
PRODUCT
CAPACITY, GPO
CRANKCASE
OIL
SOURCES OF
XX MAJOR
x MINOR
FEED
INDUSTRIAL
OILS OTHER
PRODUCTS
LUBE
TRANSMISSION
OILS OTHER
COMMENTS
RB
DIESEL
DE
OPERATING
15. x x 48,000 40,000 x x xx Journal box Planning
hydraulic, modernization
gear oils
16. x x Continuous -- 2,000 x x x Hydraulic, Trying to sail
fuel, Spray Out
form oils
17. x x De—emulsif. 22,000 22,000 x x Soluble xx Road, Some custom
of indust. & cut- hydraulic induStrial work
oil ting oils.
oils
18. x x 8,000 8,000 x x Watered xx Fuel, Planning to
fuels, asphalt rotary vac. filter
trans- blending odor from water
former oil problem
oils
19. x x Dewater & 25,000 25,000 X Cutting & X Industrial
filter in- other in— oils Expanding capacity-
dust. oils dust. oil considerable custou
hydraulic indus. work — had
oil had poiychlorinated
biphenyl problem—
acid sludge neu-
tralized before
disposal
-------
Table 4. SURVEY OF WASTE OIL RE-REFINERS (Continued)
XX — MAJOR
X — MINOR
PRODUCTS
COMPANY
PROCESS
ACID CLAY OTNER
PRODUCT
CAPACITY, GPD
CRANKCASE
— OIL
SOURCES OF NEED
INDUSTRIAL
RP DIESEL 0I1. .S OTHER
LUBE I
TRANSMISSION
OILS OTHER
COMMENTS
DESIGN
OPERATIN
20. x x 6,000 xx Transmission Trying to
oil, form I sell out
spray oil
(little pro-
cessing)
21. x x 9,000 0,000 x x xx Journal box No longer
oil, diesel has Bite
lubes for acid
sludge
disposal—
may go to
dehydration
only to make
fuel.
I ’ ,
22. Dietilla— 30,000 x Contami— x uel ‘one
tion nated
flue is
23. x x 2,500 2,500 — — xx orin oil
24. x x Caustic 6,000 4,000 x —— xx
35. x x 4,000 4,000 x —— xx
26. x x 2,000 2,000 x —— xx
27. Distilla- X X X Jet Fuels, 1ev ra—reIi—
tion fuels, asphalt flux ning process
inter- under devel.
face Customers
fuels segregate
oils.
-------
Table 4. SURVEY OF
WASTE OIL RE-REFINERS (Continued)
PRODUCTS
COMPANY
PROCESS
ACID .ç1 I OTHER
CAPACITY GPO
DESIGN OP&RATING
CRANKCASE
OIL.
X-MINOR
SOURCES OF FEED
INDUSTRIAL
PR DIESEL OILS OTHER
LUBE a
TRANSMISSION
OILS OTHER
COMMENTS
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
* Norma
4,000
6,000
6,000
12,500
5,000
1,900
* * —— 10,000
—— x —— 15,000
x x —— 6,000
* x —— 7,500
* x —— ——
— x Distilla— 25,000
tion
x x —— 2,400
* x —— 20,000
ly inc udes an oil stri ping st p.
*
x
x
*
x
x
x
x
*
x
x
x
x
Cutting
and
cooling
oils
Waste
diesel
fuel
Solvents
Formerly did
railroad bus.
custom indus.
work major
business
r
Journal
oil,
industri-
al oils
Hydraulic
oil
Fuel
Journal
box oil
Chain oi3
chemical
carrier
Sweeping
compound
Trans form
oil
Journal
box oil,
diesel
lube
xx
xx
xx
x
x
-------
As can be seen from Table 4, the acid/clay treatment
process has dominated the re—refining industry. Of the 27
companies producing lube stocks, 24 use acid/clay treatment.
A few use distillation/clay treating which,has been devel-
oped as an alternative. Following is a discussion of these
two processes. A detailed discussion of waste products
produced during processing is provided in Section VIII.
Acid/C1ay Treatment
A process scheme for a typical acid/clay re-refining
of waste automotive oils is shown in Figure 1. The process
for diesel engine waste oils differs only in process con-
dition details.
Incoming materials are unloaded into a partially sub-
merged tank directly from the collection trucks. This
receiving tank must be fitted with grids and screens to
remove the debris which is normally found in the waste ma-
terials. The recommended tank would be large enough to
accept the entire truck load and permit any free water to
settle. The oil is then decanted and transferred to feed
storage tanks. The water layer is pumped to a skimmer and
then to wastewater disposal. The proper handling of the
raw material is extremely important to a smoothly operating
facility.
Based on data obtained from re—refiners, it is believed
that a typical analysis of oil in the storage tanks would
be
Water 3.5% by volume
Naphtha 7.0% by volume
Oil, etc. 89.5% by volume
More detailed analyses were presented in Tables 1 and 2.
The feed is pumped through a steam heat exchanger to the
flash dehydrator which operates at 300°F and atmospheric
pressure. The steam/oil overhead is condensed and sepa-
rated; the oil to light end storage to be used for fuel,
and the water to the wastewater disposal system.
The dehydrated oil is sometimes further stripped of
light fractions prior to acid treating, but more often it
is pumped directly to dry oil tanks, where it is stored
and cooled. It can be stored for 2 to 4 days before it
picks up appreciable moisture, which tends to increase acid
requirements during the following step. After 48 hours
34
-------
VOLATILE DIST1LLATES
TO FUEL
WATER TO SUMP
PRE-TREATMENT
HEATER
LUBE STOCK
TO STORAGE
FLASH
DEHYDRATOR
FEED
WATER TO SUMP
93%
DEHYDRATED
300F
u - I
JACKETED
Al R
ACID SLUDGE
CLAY SLURRY
ACID TREATMENT CLAY TREATMENT
RE-REFINING BY AN ACID/CLAY PROCESS
FIGURE 1
-------
storage the oil temperature has dropped to approximately
100°F.
Dry oil is pumped to one of several acid treating units.
These units are steam jacketed and are agitated with plant
air. Four to six volume percent of 93% sulfuric acid is
added to the reactor where the temperature is maintained at
about 100°F. Although fresh acid is usually used, several
re—refiners use spent alkylation acid from petroleum re-
fineries. The oxidized products contained in the oil are
usually removed from the oil by the acid within 24 hours,
but up to 48 hours may be required depending on the raw
material. The acid sludge, containing oil contaminants and
ash, separates from the oil and is drawn off from the re-
actor bottom. Acid sludge analyses are presented in Section
VIII. Acid sludge disposal, usually done in landfills or
lagoons, is one of the most critical problems in this pro—
ce S s.
The acid-treated dehydrated oil is then transferred to
the steam stripping-clay treating operations. The clay
treater consists of a slurry tank, a tower, a condenser, and
a direct fired heater through which the oil is circulated.
The capacity of the clay treater is usually on the order of
5000 to 10,000 gallons. It is equipped with a sparger for
direct introduction of steam.
After the batch has been transferred to the clay
treating tower, the temperature is brought up to 550-600°F
by circulating through the heater, and live steam is intro-
duced. The purpose of the stripping operation is to re-
move the remaining light fuel fractions and odorous com-
pounds which may be present. The steam—stripped materials
are condensed, and the oil separated from the water. The
water fraction is treated through the wastewater disposal
system, and the oil fraction used as plant fuel.
The heat is discontinued after 12—15 hours and part of
the oil is diverted to the clay slurry tank. The oil
temperature is permitted to drop to approximately 400°F.
The clay, often a 50% mixture of activated clay and diato-
maceous earth (200-250 mesh), is mixed into the circulating
oil. The clay dose is approximately 0.4 pounds per gallon
of oil. The clay removes color bodies and colloidal carbon
by adsorption.
The hot oil (250-350°F) containing the clay is filtered
through a plate and frame filter press, sometimes followed
by a second filter in series. The clarified oil is then
36
-------
stored either prior to or after having the necessary addi-
tives blended into the stock.
The filter cake, a mixture of clay, impurities, and
oil, is uneconomical to separate and recover after filtration
in small plants. It must therefore be discarded, usually by
landfill. Paper, which is often used as a fulter medium in
the plate and flame press, is discarded with the cake.
Odors can be a problem with acid/clay re-refining.
These may emanate from storage tanks, processing vessels,
wastewater treatment facilities, acid sludge, and oil spills.
In some re—refining operations, odors can be controlled
adequately by sealing open vessels and tanks, good house-
keeping, and by venting process vessels to furnaces where
vapors are burned with the normal fuel. Other plants have
resorted to control methods such as caustic scrubbers to
treat gases vented from the treating steps.
The wastewater system varies from plant to plant, de-
pending on cooling water and vacuum facilities, water run-
off problems, land availability, water contamination of
feedstocks, governmental regulations, and availability of a
local sewage plant. A typical installation includes an API
separator with oil skimming, pH control, some water recycle,
and discharge to a sewage plant. Sewage plants will nor-
mally accept water with oil contents up to about 100 ppm, a
quality level relatively easy to meet.
Overall lube stock yields of 45-75% have been reported
for acid/clay treatment. These obviously depend upon
operating conditions and feed composition, with water sludge,
ash, and gasoline contents being most critical. For the
feed reported here (3.5% H 2 0, 7.0% naphtha), greater than
70% yield is believed to be possible with careful operation,
but a typical yield might be closer to 60-65%.
The oil produced by the acid/clay process can be con-
sidered a solvent neutral blending stock having an SUS (Say-
bolt Universal Second) viscosity generally between 55 and
58 at 210°F. This is equivalent to an SAE 20 oil. The lube
stock can be blended to a finished lube by the re-refiner or
sold directly to a jobber with blending facilities. For
SAE 30 oil, the viscosity is increased to 58—70 SUS (usually
60-65) at 210°F by the addition of virgin bright stocks, or
by the addition of polyisobutylene.
The viscosity index of re-refined oil normally exceeds
37
-------
90, even without additional additives. However, convention-
al additive packages are used for high viscosity index re-
quirements and for high performance specifications. Addition-
al data and discussion of oil properties and specifications
are available. 1 4, 1 5
Distillation/Clay Treatment
The distillation/clay process overcomes the serious acid
sludge waste disposal problem connected with acid/clay treat-
ment. The following description is based partly on work
supported by EPA 16 and partly on patent literature. ,’ 7 ’’ 8 The
pretreatment and distillation steps are shown in Figure 2.
The waste oils are received at the plant in the usual
manner previously described. The oil is dehydrated in a
flash tower by heating to 3000F in a direct heater, using as
fuel light fractions generated during processing. The flash
tower operates at atmospheric pressure and 3000F. The oil/
water overhead is condensed and sent on to an oil decanter.
The water phase is separated and removed to the wastewater
disposal system. The oil layer is used as fuel.
The flash tower bottoms are passed through a heat ex-
changer to reduce the temperature to approximately l000F.
Light oil, having a boiling range of 150-250 0 F is introduced
into the dehydrated oil stream. The quantity used is ap-
proximately 20% based on oil volume. A small amount of
caustic, 0.2—2.0%, dependent on feedstock emulsions, is also
introduced. The addition of the light oil and caustic tends
to break the oil-water emulsion and precipitate solids.
These materials are removed by centrifugation. The sludge
from the centrifuge can be disposed of separately, e.g. by
landfill, or it can be mixed with the distillate bottoms as
described later.
The naphtha/caustic/centrifuge pretreatment. step may
not be a necessary adjunct to distillation, but it does tend
to eliminate some of the materials which can cause fouling
and erosion in the vacuum distillation furnace and column,
and associated heat exchangers.
The centrifuged oil is then pumped to the vacuum dis-
tillation tower through a direct fired heater. The furnace
heats the oil to about 700°F. The columns operates at a
vacuum of 27 inches of mercury. The overhead naphtha, with
a boiling range as shown in Table 5, is condensed, cooled,
and used as fuel in the plant.
38
-------
COO LER
FEED
FUEL TO STORAGE
FLASH TOWER
VACUUM
VACUUM
PUMP
FURNACE
CAUSTIC
& NAPHTHA
FROM STORAGE
NAPHTHA
TO STORAGE
BOTTOM TO STORAGE
SLUDGE
PRE-TREATMENT
I LUBE DISTILLATE TO CLAY TREATING
I (OR HYDROTREATING)
VACUUM DISTILLATION
VACUUM DISTILLATION OF CRANKCASE WASTE OIL
FIGURE 2
-------
Table 5. PHYSIC PROPERTIES OF
VACUUM DISTILLATION FRACTIONSI 6 *
Afl OUflt, Boiling Specific Flash Pt.
Frac- % of Viscosity Range Gravity (Open Cup)
tion Name Feed Color SSU 0 F ________ __________
0.7972
1 Naphtha 1.5 145—446 46° API
2 Baro— 0.8602
metric 9 4 1/2 33—34@ 100°F 400—680 33° API
3 Light 36 8 100 @ 100°F 680—792 0.8735
Side— 39.1 @ 210 0 F 30.5° API 350
0 stream
4 Heavy 28 8 222 @ bOor 792—900 0.8789
Side— 47.6 @ 210°F 29.5° API 430
stream
5 Bottoms 22 dark 284 Sayb. 900+ 0.9937
Furol 10.9° API
@ 122°F
Residue, Water +
Loss 3.5 1.0
10° API
Total Av. S.G.of
100% Feed Stock
0.9035
25.1° API
* No pretreatment
-------
The bottoms, which contain almost the entire ash content
of the feed, are cooled and used as fuel, for blending into
asphaltic products, or stored in a lagoon. One or more
middle distillate cuts are taken (Table 5) and sent to clay
treatment for finishing as a lube blending stock.
The clay treatment is similar to that described for the
acid/clay process except that prior stripping is unnecessary
and the clay quantity may be reduced to as little as 0.125
lbs. per gallon of oil. The filter cake obtained during
filtration is disposed of in the usual manner.
The yields for this type operation, based on input oil,
are approximately 70%, comparable to the best acid/clay
treating operations. Product quality should also be com-
parable, although viscosity at 210°F seems to be somewhat
lower due to bottoms removal.
By taking more than one side—stream from the vacuum
distillation column, it may be possible to obtain a part of
the yield as higher viscosity lube stocks. The properties
of some distilled motor oils are shown in Tables 5 and 6.
It is believed that clay treatment leaves most of these
properties relatively unchanged, except for improvements in
color, neutralization number, and reductions in oxygen and
nitrogen content.
Odor and wastewater problems are not believed to be any
more serious with this process than with acid/clay treat-
ment. However, when a barometric condenser is used for the
vacuum column, the quantity of contaminated wastewater is
very large. Water or air—cooled surface condensers are
preferable to barometric condensers, but are more expensive,
though the increased cost must be balanced against the de-
creased cost of wastewater treatment.
POTENTIAL PROCESSES FOR RE-REFINING LUBE OILS
At least two processes are available for re—refining
of crankcase drain oils that are not now in use in the U. S.
These are: a solvent extraction process followed by treat-
ment with reduced amounts of acid and clay as compared to
the conventional process; and a vacuum distillation process
followed by catalytic hydrogen treating instead of clay
treating as discussed earlier.
41
-------
Table 6. PROPERTIES OF DISTILLED
USED MOTOR OILS 1
Texas(B)
Texas(A)
California
New York
Yields:
Overhead, vol.%
0-77
3.5_89.9*
0—82.9k
0—89.9
wt. %
73.5
85.2
79.1
85.7
Bottoms, wt. %.
26.5
14.8
21.9
14.3
DISTILLATE:
Vis. @ 100°F, SSEJ
151
197.9
188.8
144
Vis. @ 210°F, SSU
43.6
46.5
46.0
43.1
Viscosity index
104
105
105
105
Color, ASTM
3.5
7.5
8.0
Lt. 7.0
Neut. Number
0.38
0.59
0.23
Polar compounds, wt. %
Sulfur
0.09
0.12
0.13
0.12
Oxygen
0.19
0.17
0.35
0.16
Nitrogen
0.04
0.03
0.02
0.02
Boiling range, °F
380—1050
530—1010
472—1022
462—1006
*0...3.5 volume fraction of water and light hydrocarbons was collected overhead,
separate from oil product.
+Heat treated while purging with nitrogen for 24 hours at 270°F to drive off
water prior to distillation.
-------
Solvent Extraction/Acid/Clay Treatment
The solvent extraction/acid/clay process is a relative-
ly new development in the re-refining of waste lubricating
oils. It has been tried experimentally in the U. S.,but no
plants are now in operation. A 9—million-gallon-per-year
plant is operating in Italy based on a process developed by
Institut Francais du Petrole (IFP).’ 9
The basis for the process is the use of propane to
selectively extract the base lube stock from the additives
and impurities. The propane, containing dissolved oil, is
removed from the extractor, while the high boiling, dark
colored asphaltic and oxidized hydrocarbons and suspended
solids are removed from the unit bottom as a residue. The
bottoms are mixed with a fuel oil and used as plant fuel,
or otherwise disposed of; whereas the propane is flashed
from the oil and recycled.
The process scheme, as shown in Figure 3, consists of
the following:
a. Thermal dehydration
b. Precipitation and solvent extraction
C. Propane recovery
d. Acid treatment
e. Clay treatment and filtration
The incoming waste oil is unloaded into a receiving
tank as described before. The feed for the process is
pumped through the steam heat exchanger to the flash de--
hydrator, operated at about 300°F and atmospheric pressure.
The overhead is condensed and drained into an oil separator.
The water layer is disposed of through the wastewater dis-
posal system; the oil layer is either stored or processed
immediately in the solvent extractor.
The oil is pumped to the precipitation tower (solvent
extractor) via a heat exchanger. The propane is also
heated and introduced into the tower approximately 1/3 up
from the bottom. The oil is introduced 1/3 down from the
top. The solvent extractor operates at several hundred
pounds per square inch pressure. The propane—oil solution
(the oil having dissolved in solvent) goes overhead due to
specific gravity differences, whereas the precipitate flows
to the extractor (contactor) bottom.
The counter—current flow is important to efficient
extraction. Steam coils, installed at the tower top and
43
-------
FUEL OIL
PRE-
DISTILLATION
EXTRACTION
PROPANE SEPARATION
PROPANE
RECOVERY
FINISHING
RE-REFINING BY A PROPANE EXTRACTION PROCESS
FIGURE 3
FEED
LIGHT OIL TO FUEL
WATER TO SUMP
PROPANE
MAKE-UP
CONTACTOR
93%
CLAY
SLURRY
RESIDUE
ACID SLUDGE
FURNACE
LUBE STOCK TO STORAGE
-------
bottom, control the temperature at the desired level in the
l00—200 0 F range.
For very high quality lube oil, the solvent-to-feed ratio
would be approximately 20:1. This will vary and must be de-
termined for each feedstock. The lowest solvent—to-feed ratio
would be 1:1, yielding poor quality oil in the raffinate.
Current operations are believed to be in the vicinity of 15:1.
A small amount of the fuel oil is added to assist in
the flow of the high viscosity residue from the unit. The
residue is released from the extractor by a liquid level
controller. The fuel oil-residue mixture is stored for use
as fuel for the direct fired heaters, or for other means of
disposal.
The propane—oil solution is flashed through a pressure
reducing valve into a solvent flash drum. It is usual to
use a two—stage flash to separate the propane and oil. The
propane gas is then liquefied and recycled.
The lube oil is sent on to acid/clay treatment as des-
cribed in the acid/clay process. The solvent extraction
process requires only about 2% of 93% sulfuric acid by
volume based on oil, compared with 4-6% for the acid/clay
process. After treatment with about 0.15 lbs. of clay per
gallon at 300°F and filtration, the lube oil quality is
reported to be superior to the acid/clay product, at least
in terms of color and color stability, and perhaps vis-
cosity. 1 9
Although the quantities of acid and clay required in
the IFP process are greatly reduced, a disposal problem
still exists. No acid sludge analysis is available, but the
metals content, e.g. lead, is undoubtedly lower than for the
acid/clay process. Most of the metals and other impurities
appear in the fuel oil-residue mixture. Therefore, the use
of this material as a fuel is environmentally questionable,
unless accompanied - by a considerable investment in air
pollution control equipment.
Boiler tube fouling which will also occur due to the
ash content, also detracts from the use of the fuel oil-
residue mixture in normal applications.
45
-------
Distillation/Hydrogen Treatment
The distillation/hydrogen treating process is similar
to distillation/clay treating, except for the finishing step,
shown in Figure 4. Although this scheme is widely used in
petroleum refineries, no plants are now operating on waste
oils. However, two European installations to be started up
in the period 1974-76 are apparently planning to combine
hydrogen treating with the IFP propane extraction process
previously described. 2 0
As described before, a pretreat section can be used
ahead of vacuum distillation to reduce fouling and erosion
problems. The distillate (sidestrearn) from the vacuum
distillation column is heated using hydrotreating product
and an oil fired heater before being mixed with recycle and
makeup hydrogen. The hydrogen-oil mixture is contacted with
a standard commercial hydrotreating catalyst in a fixed bed.
The hydrogen reacts with oxygen and nitrogen—containing
impurities and unsaturates.
The pressure is reduced in two flash drums in series
and the recovered gaseous hydrogen is recycled. The puri-
fied oil is used to preheat the incoming feed and then
injected into a vacuum or stream stripping column where the
small amount of volatile materials which may have formed is
removed. The purified product leaving the stripper can be
used to preheat vacuum distillation feed before final cool-
ing and storage.
Recent work, summarized in Table 7, has shown that the
hydrogen treated distillate can match typical properties of
150 vis neutral lube blending stock. Hydrotreating con-
ditions used in this work were 650 psig., 650°F, 800 standard
cubic feet of hydrogen recycled per barrel of feed, and a
space velocity of 1.0 v/v/hr (volumes of feed per hour per
volume of catalyst).
The distillation bottoms which contain almost all of
the objectionable impurities can be disposed of as dis-
cussed before. However, work is now underway, under an EPA
grant, for use of this high lead material (from automotive
crankcase waste oil) as a fuel in a secondary lead smelting
operation. If this is successful as expected, the dis-
tillation/hydrogen treating scheme holds promise as being
the first re—refining process available without a solid waste
disposal problem.
46
-------
HYDROTREATED LUBE DISTILLATE
LU BE
DISTILLATE
COOLER
COOLER
TO FUEL
CATALYTIC
HYDROTR EATING
REACTOR
-4
WATER TO
WASTEWATER TRE&TMENT
STEAM
STRIPPER
STEAM
P1*/
DISTIL LATE
LUBE STOCK
TO STORAGE
VACUUM
DISTILLATION FEED
TO VACUUM
DISTILLATION FURNACE
HYDROTREATING
FIGURE 4
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Table 7. DISTILLATION AND HYD OGEN
TREATMENT OF USED MOTOR OIL
Distilled- Hydrofined Typical
oil 650 psig.,l v/v 1 properties
Used* Used+ 800 scf/b H of 150 vis
motor oil dis- 2, neutral lube
oil tillate 550 0 F 600°F 650°F base stock
Vis. 100 0 F, sSu... 237 164 162 159 156 157
Vis. 210°F, SSu... 55.4 44.3 44.1 44.1 43.8 43.0
Viscosity index..... l66i 102 101 104 103 104
Color, ASTM . Black Black Lt. 1.5 Lt. 1.0 Lt. 1.5 1.5
Color stability,TR.. 18 16 17
(16 hrs 212°F)
Gravity,
60°F , 26.0 30.7 31.3 31.4 31.5 31.8
Flash, COC,°F 200 440 420 430 410 415
Pour point, °F —30 +15 +20 +20 +15 +15
Neutralization No... 5.87 0.51 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.01
Con, carbon, wt. %.. 3.33 0.01 0.001 0.001 0.001 0.01
Copper strip corr... ..... 2 2 1 1
(3 hrs & 212°F)
Sulfur, wt. % 0.30 0.12 0.053 0.031 0.012 0.08
Nitrogen, wt. % 0.08 0.018 0.006 0.006 0.002
*Used crankcase oil from a 30,000-gallon tank at the Sewell’s Point terminal
(4/2/70).
+35O—945 F cut (14—90 vol. %).
*The light materials in used motor oil obscure the determination of the VI
of the base oil.
-------
As for other environmental problems, the wastewater
problem is similar to other re—refining processes and can
be overcome by conventional design. A scrubber may be re-
quired to remove impurities from the hydrogen purge stream
and other minor gaseous discharges.
Additional work on catalyst life and hydrogen con-
sumption would be desirable before commercialization of
this process.
Other Re-Refining Approaches
Many proposals for alternative re-refining processes
have centered about the possibility of using solvents and/
or chemical treating agents. None of these approaches is
in use for producing lubricating oils, although some claims
are made as to the efficacy of caustic, 2 ’ isopropanol 22 ,
and butanol treatments. 2 3
The use of several chemical flocculants and solvent
precipitants such as aluminum chloride, triethanolamine,
and trichioroethylene were studied by Armour Research
Foundation about 1960, but they showed little promise at
the conditions used. 2 Walter C. McCrone Associates in 1971
investigated a number of non—acid flocculents as alter-
natives to sulfuric acid for treating drain oils. 25 Alka-
nolamines and a diglycolaniine were found to be the most
effective. These research programs were supported by the
Association of Petroleum Re—refiners.
More recently, National Oil Recovery Corporation (NORCO)
under sponsorship of the U. S. Environmental Protection
Agency, has investigated a number of materials for waste oil
treatment, some of which hold some promise as being economi-
cally effective re—refining agents. A report on the NORCO
work should be available in 1974.
Some of the above and other potential re-refining ap-
proaches have been described in a recent state-of-the-art
report. 1 5
49
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EVALUATION OF WASTE LUBE OIL DISPOSAL TECHNOLOGY
An economic comparison has been made of the re—refining
schemes previously discussed. Re-refining to lube stocks
has also been compared with the cost of distillation to pre-
pare a clean fuel oil, and combustion in boilers for steam
production as alternative methods for using crankcase waste
oils. Other waste lubricating oils and disposal methods are
considered.
Cost Basis
The cost basis chosen is meant to provide:
I. comparisons of various re-refining technologies.
2. comparison of re—refining with other environ-
mentally acceptable methods of using crankcase
waste oils.
3. a measure of the attractiveness of new re—refining
facilities to produce lubricating oils from crank-
case waste oil not now being recycled.
The size of new re—refining facilities should be as large as
possible for efficient operation, but oil collection costs,
which increase with collection area, provides a major re-
straint on plant size.
A grass roots acid/clay plant accepting 5 million gallons
per year of crankcase waste oil (or drain oil), as will be
seen, is about a minimum economic size, resulting in close
to break—even operation. All comparisons were made for this
size operation. At the 5 million gallon per year size, as
many as 80 new facilities could be built to handle the esti-
mated 400 million gallons per year of drain oil not now
being recycled (excluding industrial lube oils).
Operation was assumed to be 24 hours per day, 5 days
per week, 50 weeks per year. This type of operation allows
repair and maintenance on weekends as necessary, while mini-
mizing the complexity of manning, and providing flexibility
for increasing plant capacity when necessary. It is the
type of operation now most common in this industry. Costs
might be reduced somewhat by continuous 7—day-per—week
operation with shutdowns as required for repair and main-
tenance.
50
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The costs (mid-1973 basis) presented are general and
meant for orientation purposes only. They are based on
process design calculations, but not detailed mechanical
designs. Other cost bases are included in Tables 11 and 12.
Process Comparisons
The costs for the various alternatives have been sum-
marized in Table 8. Costs for the acid/clay process are
about 3 to 5 /gal. of lube product higher than for the alter-
native re—refining schemes, which were essentially a stand-
off within the accuracy of this comparison. A new German/
Israeli development described in Section VII reduces acid
consumption and cost in the acid/clay process.
The distillation/hydrotreating alternative has the ad-
vantage of producing no waste products, but the process has
not yet been demonstrated on a commercial scale for drain
oils. Available experimental data is promising. 26
The propane extraction process, followed by acid/clay
treatment at lower levels than ordinarily used, is offered
in the U. S. by IFP, a French company. 19 A plant based on
this process is now operating in Italy. Pilot plant work
on a similar process has also been conducted in the U. s 27
The disadvantage of propane extraction is that, although
acid and clay waste are reduced, they are not eliminated.
The process also produces a high ash fuel oil which will
cause tube fouling problems when burned in ordinary com-
bustion equi ment, as has been experienced in the Italian
plant cited. °
The distillation/clay process economics are based in
part on patent descriptions. 17 ’’ 8 It is believed that two
re—refiners in the U. S. operate plants at least similar to
these descriptions. The process eliminates acid sludge,
but spent clay disposal remains as a problem, though much
less serious. In addition, a sludge is produced during pre-
treatment, if carried out according to the referenced patent,
and a high ash bottoms product results from the distillation
step, as is true in all the processes which involve the dis-
tillation step. The disposal of the bottoms and solids
residues was discussed earlier.
The production of clean fuels by distillation does not
appear attractive, as compared to the preparation of lubes,
unless fuel prices increase significantly relative to lubes.
51
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TABLE 8. SUMMARY OF CRANKCASE WASTE OIL PROCESSES
Grass Roots Econ.-
Primary Wastes 5 Million Gal/Yr.
Process Primary Product & Byproducts Investment Op. Cost Comments
Acid/Clay Lube blending Acid sludge, $1,153,000 2l.9 /Ga1. Widely used
stock spent clay Lube in U. S.
Extraction/
Acid/Clay Lube blending Acid sludge, $1,363,000 l8.4 /Gal. One operating
stock spent clay; high Lube plant in Italy.
ash fuel byproduct
Distillation!
Clay Lube blending Spent clay; $1,173,000 17.3 /Gal. At least two
stock high ash fuel Lube plants in U.S.
byproduct
U,
Disti l lation/
H 2 Treating Lube blending High ash fuel $1,342,000 l9.0 ’/Gal. Under
stock byproduct Lube development.
Distillation Fuel oil (diesel High ash fuel $ 930,000 l4.6’ /Gal. Can make high
fraction could byproduct Fuel oil quality fuel,
possibly be re— but economics
covered) questionable.
Contro1le Steam Ash concentrate $ 492,000 80 /l00O Speculative-
Combustion Lbs. Steam fine particle
recovery
difficult.
* Includes 3 /gal. feed cost and 10%/yr. depreciation, but excludes return on investment.
See Tables 9,10, and 11. for details.
-------
TABLE 9. CRANKCASE WASTE OIL PROCESSING CAPITAL INVESTMENT
Basis: 5 Million Gal/Yr. Raw Oil; 250 Days/Yr. Operation
Process Acid/Clay Extr/Acid/Clay Dist/Clay Dist/H 2 Dist. Comb.
Product Lube Lube Lube Lube Fuel Steam
Investment,
$1000
Process Equip. 662 829 609 773 423 200
Storage Facil. 367 402 440 440 400 200
Office & Lab. 32 32 32 32 32 32
U i
1061 1263 1081 1245 855 432
Land & Site
Improvement 92 100 92 97 75 60
1153 1363 1173 1342 930 492
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TABLE 10. POTENTIAL PROFITABILITY OF CRANKCASE WASTE OIL PROCESSES
Basis: S Million Gal/Yr. Raw Oil; 250 Days/Yr. Op.ration
Process Acid/Clay Extr./Acid/Clay Dist./Clay Dist.J 2 Diet. Incin.
Product Lube Oil Lube Oil Lube Oil Lube Oil Fuel Oil Steam
Investment, $1000 1153 1363 1173 1342 930 492
Oper. Costs (Exci. Feed ) 17.760/Gal. l4.86 /Ga1. 13.380/Gal. 15.020/Gal. lO. 67 0/Ga l. 50.540/1000 Lbs.
Per Unit of Product
Feed Costs
t 34/Gal. Of Raw Oil 4 7 3•57 3.95 3•95 3.95 29.35
Total Costs 21.930/Gal. 18.430/Gal. 17.330/Gal. 18.974/GaL. 14.620/Gal. 79.890/1000 Lbs.
Product Credits
Lube Stock • 220/Gal. 22.00 22.00 22.00 22.00 — —
Fuel Oil 8 150/Gal. — — — — 15.00 —
Steam 9 81.50/1000 Lbs. — — — — — 150.00
High P sh Fuel Oil
9 80/Gal. — 0.59 0.55 0.55 0.55 —
22.000/Gal. 22.590/Gal. 22.550/Gal. 22.550/Gal. 15.550/Gal. 150.000/1000 Lb..
Lube Lube Lube Lube Fuel Oil Steam
Profit (Before Tax
Per Unit Product 0.070/Gal. 4.160/Gal. 5.220/Gal. 3.580/Gal. 0.930/Gal. 70.110/1000 Lbs.
8/Yr. 2,500 174,700 198,400 136,000 35.400 358,000
%/Yr. Return 0.2 12.8 16.9 3.0.1 3.8 72.8
Return, %/Yr.
Before Tax
Lube Stock 8 224/Gal. 0.2 12.8 16.9 10.1
Lube Stock B 250/Gal. 9.6 22.1 26.6 18.6
Lube Stock • 300/Gal. 25.6 37.5 42.8 32.8
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TABLE 11.
CRANKCASE WASTE OIL PROCESS OPERATING COSTS
Basis: 5 Million Gal/Yr. Raw Oil; 250 Days/Yr. Operation
Process
Product
— Type
— Yearly
Prod.
Acid/Clay
Lube Oil.
3.6 x io6
Gal.
Extr./Acid/Clay
Dist./Clay
Lube Oi
3.8 x 10
Dist./H 2
Gal.
4.2
Lube il
x 10 Gal.
Lube
Yield
Investment, $1000
‘ ant
u’;
1061
1263
1081
Land & Site
92
rr
100
r
92
irn
Lube Oil
3.8 x 106 Gal
1245
97
fl
Dist.
Fuel Oil
3.8 x Gal.
855
75
930
cr emicais
93% H 2 S0 4 8 3 /Lb.
Clay @ 3.30/Lb.
H 2 @ 0.40/SCF
Propane 8 20/Lb.
Other
Utilities
Elec. Power 8 30/KWH
Water 8 50/1000 Gal.
No. 6 Fuel Oil 8
120/Gal.
Plant Labor
wages @ $11,000/Yr.
Supplies & 011 8 50%
Maintenance
Ins. & Local Taxes
9 3% Invest./Yr.
Waste Disposal
Incin .
Steam
511 x 106
(85,200 Lbs./Hr.)
432
60
Basis’ ç/G l .
1.06 3.18
0.4 1.32
0.1 0.30
0.017 0.09
8 men 2.44
— 1.22
5%P/Yr. .1.47
— 0.96
— 0.50
Basis ’
0.36
0.15
0.03
0.3
0.04
0.037
8 men
5% P/Yr.
c/Gal .
1.08
0.50
0.06
0.90
0.20
0.44
2.10
1.05
1.50
0.97
0.20
Basis . i/Gal. Basis’ c/Gal .
.125 0.41 —
3.6
0.2
0.02
8 men
5%P/Yr.
Depreci at ion
9 10% P/Yr.
Indirect Costs
Salaries $80,000
Per Yr.
Suppl.& OH 8 50% —
Oper. Cost (Excl.Feed )
— 0.40
0.2 0.60
0.021 0.11
8 men 2.32
— 1.16
5%P/Yr. 1.42
— 0.93
— 0.03
— 2.84
$80,000 2.11
Per Yr.
— 1.05
13.38
C/Gal.
Lube
1.44
0.26
0.60
0 . 10
2.32
1.16
1.64
— 1.06
— 3.28
$80,000 2.11
Per Yr.
— 1.05
15.02
C/Gal.
Lube
Basis, c/Gal .
— 0.40
0.15 0.45
0.02 0.10
7 men 2.03
— 1.01
5%P/Yr. 1.13
— 0.73
— 2.25
$65,000 1.71
‘er Yr.
— 0.86
10.67
C/Gal.
Fuel Oi
2.95
2.22
1.11
17.76
C/Gal.
Lube
Bas.s’ c/i.uuu lb .
2.35 7.05
0.3 1.50
S men 10.76
— 5.38
6%P/Yr. 4.24
— 2.89
— 8.45
$35,000 6.85
Per Yr.
— 3.42
50.54
0/1000 Lb
Ste az
— 3.01
$80,000 1.90
Pet Yr.
0.95
14.86
C/Gal.
Lube
* Per unit of product.
-------
The possibility of taking a light fraction of this material
as diesel fuel is under study..
Where a market for steam exists, it appears that a com-
bustion system with well designed air pollution control
equipment could be attractive. If scrubbers are used, for
example high energy venturis with 100 inches of water pres-
sure drop, a water treatment system for solids recovery must
be included.
The economics presented here are for orientation pur-
poses. Each proposed plant must be designed in detail to
account for the range in feedstock compositions and quanti-
ties expected, the peculiarities of a particular collection
system, local problems of waste disposal, etc. The yields
assumed are somewhat optimistic, though attainable with some
feedstocks and careful operation, but ot representative of
most existing re—refineries.
An assumption inherent in the economic comparison of
the lube producing processes is that product quality is the
same for each process. Insufficient data is available to
properly examine the validity of this assumption.
Other Disposal Techniques
Uncontrolled combustion (with little or no air pollution
control), road oiling, and dust control are commonly used
alternatives for waste oil disposal. These uses may return
anywhere from 1 to l2 per gallon more to the waste oil
collector than the 2-7 per gallon of raw oil paid by a re-
refiner. For example, a collector may take a dust control
contract for l0-l5 /gallon, laying down the oil directly
from his collection truck.
The re—refiner has a very difficult time competing with
such uses for waste lubricating oils on a pure price basis,
particularly in times of fuel oil shortage. However, both
resource and environmental conservation should be important
considerations when contemplating alternative methods for
waste oil disposal.
Drain Oil as a Fuel — The uncontrolled use of automotive
drain oil as a fuel could result in the discharge of 30—40
million pounds per year of lead, plus other metal containing
particulates, to the atmosphere. This is, of course, true
whether or not the waste oil has been blended with cleaner
fuel to avoid exceeding source and air quality standards and
56
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to minimize heat transfer surface fouling. This quantity of
lead represents about 3-4% of U. S. mine production in 196911
(or about 1% of consumption). Since U. S. lead reserves are
limited, some is now imported,’ ’ good conservation practice
dictates against indiscriminate emission of lead.
Lube oil conservation is also an important consideration.
Lubes are now in short su lv, consumption having caught up
with production capacity. The production of lubes, which
requires a series of expensive refining steps from specially
selected crude oils, is not readily expanded.
Health hazards associated with the accumulation of lead
in the body are well known. Although uncontrolled combustion
of waste oils contributes much less lead to the atmosphere
than is emitted from gasoline combustion in engines, the
amount is significant as discussed above. While health and
other environmental effects are not fully understood, there
is undoubtedly some risk in uncontrolled combustion, a risk
increased by the fact that the particle size of the bulk of
the emitted particles is likely to be less than one micron. 29
In view of the potential attractiveness of re-refining, this
risk does not seem to be worth taking.
If new restrictions on lead in gasoline are maintained,
automotive drain oil lead will gradually decrease, but
significant levels will persist for many years. Furthermore,
pressures to decrease gasoline consumption in automobiles
could possibly result in a return to high compression ratio
and the renewed need for lead anti—knock compounds.
An unconfirmed report that drain oils have been used as
a fuel for drying of hops (used in beer) is another illus-
tration of the need for controls. Many animal and human
foodstuffs undergo direct fired drying as a processing step
where contamination could result from the unsuspected use of
drain oil blended into a clean fuel.
Drain Oil for Road Oiling and Dust Control - A study of run-
of f of oils from roads treated to suppress dust clearly
shows the potential environmental problems which can result.
Conservation of lead and lubrication oils, as discussed above,
also dictates against this practice. In spite of this and
the availability of more suitable oils, over 300 million
gallons per year may be used for this purpose (see Section X,
Table 26).
57
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Asphalt — Some drain oil and distilled drain oil fractions
are used as cutting stocks for asphalt manufacture. Little
is known about the environmental effect of such use. Most
of the metallic compounds, including lead compounds, present
in the oil are relatively insoluble in water and presumably
coated with viscous asphaltic materials. Therefore, little
rain leaching would be expected for asphalt uses such as
roofing and roads.
Form Oil — Drain oil and drain oil fractions are also sold
for coating forms used for concrete and other building
materials. Presumably this drain oil eventually reaches
the environment through disposal of forms to landfill, or
burning of wooden forms.
Chemical Raw Materials - Drain oil fractions retovered by
the distillation/clay process (bottoms) and other processes
are reported to be useful in rubber products. 6 However, raw
drain oil cannot be used, so that this application is not a
true competitor for re—refining, but rather may be comple—
mentary.
Paraffinic materials, such as drain oils, are potenti-
ally useful as feedstocks for steam cracking to produce
ethylene, propylene, butenes, and butadiene, the most im-
portant petrochemicals used in plastics manufacture. The
market is so large that it could theoretically use all of
the waste automotive and industrial lubricating oils avail-
able. However, the presence of ash dictates against the
use of raw oils in conventional steam cracking tubular
furnaces.
The distilled product from drain oil would probably
make a good steam cracker feed, but as has been shown, the
cost for producing this product in a 5 million gallon per
year plant exceeds fuel price. A careful study of yields
and costs is necessary to determine the attractiveness of
this approach. The excellent yields of monomers obtained
with waxy distillate feed, offset by lower aromatic yields,
is an indicator of what might occur with drain oil distil-
late.
Alternative processes, such as high temperature flu-
idized bed coking, have been used for cracking crude oil
and heavy petroleum to ethylene and other monomers. These
might be applied to raw drain oil, but, again, a careful
study of yields and costs is required.
58
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Light fractions of the paraffinic lube waste oil distil-
late could be raw materials for n—paraffin recovery de-
pending on the n—paraffin content, not now known. A large
market exists f or n—paraff ins in the manufacture of straight
chain benzene alkylates, an essential component of bio-
degradable detergents.
Animal feed protein is also made from n-paraf fins, with
a boiling range of 175_3000 C (3L 7—572°F), by fermentation
with yeast and appropriate nutrients, producing about one
pound of yeast (63-65% protein) per pound of n-paraffin. 32
The pure n-paraffin appears to be the preferred feedstock,
but hydrocarbon fractions containing n-paraf fins can also
be used. This suggests that a light boiling distillate
fraction from waste lube oils might be used if the n-paraf-
fin content is sufficiently high. Presumably further puri-
fication would be required to remove even traces of lead
and other impurities.
Partial oxidation to product carbon monoxide/hydrogen
mixtures is another possible application for raw drain oil.
Partial oxidation to produce synthesis gas can be an im-
portant starting point for many industrially important
chemicals, including hydrogen, ammonia, methanol, formalde-
hyde, and oxo alcohols. The scrubbing system could be de-
signed to remove ash components mixed with fine carbonaceous
residues, a normal product of partial oxidation. The effect
of ash components on the refractory of the 2200-3000°F
partial oxidation reactors would require study.
Petroleum Refinery Raw Material - The paraffinic crankcase
waste oils also could be useful as a catalytic crackin 9 or
hydrocracking raw material, except that ash components
would most likely act as catalyst poisons. The distilled
material could be used for catalytic cracking, but the cost
would probably make the economics marginal at best. Even
the very small lead residue would make its use in hydro-
cracking dubious from an economic viewpoint. The petroleum
industry could undoubtedly handle the problem of waste oils
if they were forced to, but their reluctance to do so is
understandable.
59
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SECTION VI
RECYCLE AND DISPOSAL TECHNIQUES
FOR OTHER WASTE OILS
Waste oils, other than the vehicular waste oils dis-
cussed in the previous section, include:
1. industrial lube type oils , including lube oils,
hydraulic oils, transformer oils not heavily
contaminated, where recycle and disposal tech-
niques and problems are similar to those des—
cribed for vehicular waste oils, except that
lead content may not be a problem.
2. emulsified oils , e.g. metal working, lubricating,
and some hydraulic oils where separation from
water presents a special problem; and where
the possible presence of special impurities
such as halides, sulfur, and fatty oils are
serious deterrents to recycle.
3. other petroleum-based industrial oils including
heavily contaminated lube oils, process oils,
oils skimmed from oil/water separators, mixed
unsegregated industrial oils, and tank clean—
ings.
4. waste vegetable, animal, and fish fats and oils .
5. oil/water mixtures from marine sources including
spills, ballast, bilge, and tanker washing, a
major portion of which is water, often salt
water.
INDUSTRIAL LUBE TYPE OILS
As noted above, recycle techniques for industrial lubes
are similar to those for drain oils. Several re-refiners
provide services to industry whereby segregated waste oil is
collected, processed, and returned to the customer in a
closed loop. Oils with a high ash content may undergo con-
ventional dehydration arid acid/clay treatment, whereas low
solids content oils may undergo only dehydration and clay
treatment.
Recycling is sometimes done within the industrial plant,
with centrifugation to remove metal particles followed by
60
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clay treatment as a common approach to the problem. In-plant
recycle of transformer oils may involve only vacuum dehy-
dration and filtration. Waste industrial lubricating oils
are also used as a fuel, with none of the restraints on the
similar use of automotive drain oil caused by lead content,
unless contaminated with automotive drain oil.
EMULSIFIED OILS
Where service is not severe and reasonable segregation
can be maintained, oil-water emulsions can be recycled, or
oil can be recovered from the emulsion, purified, and re—
emulsified for re—use. However, in most industrial situations
treatment of oil—water emulsions results from oil containi-
nation of waters and has as its primary objective the purifi-
cation of the wastewater. In such situations, the oil is
often disposed of as a high water content floc or sludge,
although further concentration to produce a fuel is becoming
more common.
As an example of internal recycle, soluble (emulsified)
cooling oils used for cold rolling in steel mills is often
isolated and recycled. The steps involved may include
gravity separation and skimming to remove free oils, f lit-
ration to remove solid contaminants, and addition of bacteri—
cides, antioxidants, or other agents to extend the life of
the soluble cooling oil. However, even this recycled coolant
eventually degrades and requires disposal by emulsion break-
ing.
On the other hand, many plant wastewaters systems are
contaminated by lubricants from a multitude of sources, for
example, cutting oils, hydraulic oils, oil mist collectors,
and coolants. Treatment of these wastewaters ranges from
simple separators to sophisticated multi-step treatment
systems which includes chemical addition. 33 The following
description is a hypothetical example of the steps which can
be followed to both recover oil and produce an acceptable
water quality for discharge or recycle. Few plants practice
all of these steps; most practice only one or two of them.
1. Holding Tank-Separator - The oil-water mixture,
containing anywhere from 200 to 50,000 ppm oil,
is held in a tank where gross oil—water separation
occurs. Wet oil is periodically pumped from
the top of the tank to a reôlaim oil tank.
The remaining oil—water emulsion is transferred
to a batch chemical treating vessel. This and
similar physical separation steps are often
classified as primary treatment.
61
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2. Chemical Treater - The emulsion is heated in the
chemical treater to 100-150°F and chemicals added
to break the emulsion. The chemicals used de-
pend upon the nature of the emulsion, but acids,
such as sulfuric or hydrochloric, calcium chloride,
alum (aluminum sulfate), or ferric chloride
are used, sometimes in sequence. For example,
in one case, 95% sulfuric acid is introduced to
lower the pH to 2-3, followed by brief air mixing
and a 6-12 hour digestion period. Emulsion
breaking is completed by adding calcium chloride
and caustic soda, bringing the pH to 7.5 to 9 5•3
The oil-water separation is often completed by
adding coagulating agents such as alum, ferric
chloride, or polyelectrolytes, usually polymers.
A typical coagulation process may be represented
as follows:
Al 2 (S0 4 ) 3 + 3CaCO 3 + 3H 2 0
2A1(OH) 3 + 3CaSO 4 + 3C0 2
(Aluminum
hydroxide
floc)
The polyelectrolytes may be used as a primary
coagulant or as an aid. Other aids such as
sodium silicate, clay, lime, caustic soda, and
soda ash are used to raise the pH and to control
the agglQmeration and the density of the floc
which adsorbs the oil. Chemical treatment
followed by floc separation is often designated
as secondary treatment. Air flotation is one
method used for floc separation; settling is
an alternative.
3. Air Flotation — In dissolved-air flotation,
minute air bubbles are formed by saturating
the water with air under pressure followed by
a reduction in pressure. The air bubbles be-
come attached to the oily floc,floating it to
the surface. Alternatively, the air can be
introduced by turbine aerators or spargers.
The floc or scum, which may contain greater
than 90% water, is skimmed from the surface
and sent to oil recovery equipment, or dis—
posed of into lagoons, drying beds, land
62
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spreading (sometimes for dust control), by
deep well injection, or incineration.
4. Oil Recovery — Where oil quantities are suffi-
cently large, recovery may be achieved in the
plant or by a waste oil processor by either
thermal or acid treatment of the floc, with
or without prior dewatering, and water evapo-
ration from the wet oil recovered. The re-
covered oil can normally be used as a fuel.
It may also be possible to reclaim some
coagulant in this step. The economics tend
to be questionable because of energy require-
ments, and in the case of acid treatment,
because of corrosion and odor problems which
must be solved. Waste solids may also result
from this step, requiring landfill.
5. Final Water Cleanup - The water from floc
separation often contains unsatisfactory
levels of solids, dissolved organics, or,
other impurities. Further treatments such
as biological oxidation, heavy metal ion
precipitation, neutralization, or carbon
adsorption may be necessary before discharge
to streams or municipal treatment plants,
or reuse of the water. Skimming of small
quantities of oil may occur during these
treatment steps.
It may be concluded from this discussion that the re-
covery of oil from emulsions with simultaneous water purif i—
cation requires sophisticated chemical and engineering
technology. The design of such systems requires detailed
knowledge of flow rates, water and emulsion characteristics,
and sludge and floc characteristics. Adequate design re-
quires experimental data and often pilot plant demonstration.
OTHER PETROLEUM BASED-INDUSTRIAL OILS
The sources of these oils may number in the hundreds of
thousands, including refineries, most industrial plants,
governmental faci.lities, institutions, etc. Some may be
disposed of onsite, especially when the quantities are small.
As with oils recovered from emulsions, the waste oils may
be used as a fuel, incinerated, used for dust control, pro-
tection against water and freezing for coal, ores, etc.,
and other miscellaneous uses. They may also find their way
63
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into lagoons and landfill. As noted earlier, this one
category of miscellaneous oils, which includes the entire
spectrum of petroleum and coke oven oil losses, could
amount to more than one billion gallons per year.
The greatest single source of other petroleum—based
waste oils are the refineries, where water treatment
systems have been developed which internally recycle most
oils back to “slop” tanks, thence to distillation for
recovery. Little oil leaves the refinery complex except
as dredgings, sludges, sediments, tank cleanings, spent
catalyst and the like. These generally are landfilled or
picked up by collectors, though lagoons are still used to
some extent for waste liquid materials. Numerous
descriptions of waste oil recove 1 d 3 i osal facilities
are available in the literature. ‘ ‘
Oil recovery and disposal facilities available in con-
junction with petroleum transportation, marketing, and use -
are not nearly so extensive, except within large industrial
plants where extensive water treating is practiced. In
small installations it is uncommon to find more than a oil/
water separator to treat oily waters. Recovered waste oil
is most often landfilled, used as fuel, or collected for
road oiling or processing to fuels.
Oil—water separation at production facilities has be-
come more sophisticated, often using heater—treaters
(chemical emulsion breakers), air flotation, or sand filters.
Recovered oils are fed to pipelines where possible, turned
over to collectors, or disposed of, for example to help
stabilize sandy soils.
WASTE VEGETABLE, 2 NIMAL ND FISH FATS ND OILS
Fats and oils are recovered from wastewater and
purified for use in soapmaking. Recovery requires process
steps similar to some of thos discussed in the Section on
emulsified oils, though as complete a treatment as indicated
by all those steps would be unusual at the present time. A
1965 survey of types of treatment in meat packing and pro-
cessing plants is shown in Table 12. A more recent survey,
if available, would show increased use of more effective
techniques for oil recovery and disposal, including chemical
64
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Table 12. TYPES OF WASTE TREATMENT
EMPLOYED BY 108 MEAT PACKING
AND PROCESSING PLJ NTS* 35
Method No. of Plants
Screening 59
Sedimentation 71
Filtration 2
Flotation (air) 11
Flotation (gravity) 87
Flocculation 2
Evaporation 2
Chemical coagulation 1
Trickling filter 1
Activated sludge 12
Anaerobic digestion 5
Septic tank 13
Irrigation 2
Stabilization pond 7
* From “Water in Industry,” National Association of Manu-
facturers, January, 1965.
65
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coagulation, air flotation, and biological treatment.
A recent EPA project describes a system for recovery of
fatty materials from edible oil refinery effluents, including
the upgrading of fatty materials by caustic and sulfuric
acid treatment followed by a centrifuge to separate oil,
water, and waste sludge phases. l
OIL/WATER MIXTURES FROM MARINE SOURCES
Ballast, bilge, and tanker washing wastewaters contami-
nated with oil are disposed of at sea, to refinery terminal
facilities, to independent facilities, and, in the case of
U. S. Naval vessels, to Naval stations. The recovery of
oil in onshore facilities ranges from those integrated with
refineries, already discussed, to simple settlers from which
oil is recovered as a fuel. Most such facilities recover the
bulk of the oil but many may still be discharging oil contami-
nated water.
Other sources of similarly contaminated oils may arise
from offshore drilling, production, transportation, and
mooring facilities. ”
66
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SECTION VII
FOREIGN WASTE OIL
DISPOSAL AND RECYCLE TECHNIQUES
Waste oil recycle appears to be practiced much more in-
tensively in Europe than in the U. S. Tax incentives and
subsidies by European governments are a major reason. On
the other hand, plants producing lubes operating in Japan
during the 1950’s and early 1960’s, based on imported de-
hydrated drain oils, are believed to have been shut down in
favor of virgin lube production. Little is known about
waste oil practices elsewhere in the world.
The basic processing steps being used in Europe for re-
refining are essentially the same as those available in the
U. S. These are distillation, solvent extraction, and acid,
clay, and hydrogen treating. Each of these will be discussed
in turn.
Most of the information here is based on recent dis-
cussions in Europe between Dr. Peter B. Lederman, Director
of the Industrial Waste Treatment Research Laboratory, and
various people knowledgeable about European practice. 2 °
DISTILLATION
At least one plant in France uses distillation followed
by acid and clay treatment. Furnace coking is a problem in
this plant. Operation and maintenance were found to be
problems in earlier German trials with distillation.
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
The propane extraction process was described in detail
in an earlier section. It consists of flash dehydration,
propane extraction, and mild acid/clay treatment. 19 IFP’s
propane extraction process is operated by Viscolube in Milan,
Italy. Plant operation is satisfactory except for combustion
of the extraction bottoms product which, blended with fuel
oil, contains about 25% solids. Furnace tubes are fouled, 2 °
and presumably particulates are emitted to the atmosphere.
ACID/CLAY TREATMENT
Bernd Meinken, a small German engineering consulting
firm, appears to be the most significant factor in European
67
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acid/clay treatment technology. They have been responsible
for about 30 plants in Germany, Sweden, and elsewhere.
The basic Meinken technology is similar to (3 S. practice,
but plant descriptions indicate semi-continuous operation with
instrument sophistication unknown in the U. S. re—refining
industry. Special dehydration tower and acid treater designs
are claimed to be superior to competing practices. The use
of circulating hot oil heaters to replace fired heaters re-
duces skin temperatures and minimizes heater fouling by waste
oils. This approach is used in only one U. S. plant as far
as is known.
Acid sludge is neutralized with clay and/or caustic and
disposed of or burned in an incinerator at 1000°C (1832°F).
The incinerator flue gas is diluted with cold air so that
so 2 emissions, stemming from the waste acid, do not exceed
0.2—0.3% volume percent (2000-3000 ppm). Particulates from
the acid sludge and clay are presumably also emitted.
In another scheme, for fuel oil production, phenol con-
taining wastewater is vaporized in a direct fuel fired
heater and purified by incineration. Heat generated in the
incinerator can be used for process purposes.
In a more recent version of the Meinken process, a
development of Shaintom Lubricants and Chemicals, Ltd. (an
Israeli firm), whereby the waste oil is pretreated with
silicate, reportedly reduces acid requirement from about 5
to 2 volume percent.
HYDROGEN TREATMENT
No hydrogen treating plants for waste oils are now being
operated. However, two new plants reportedly will replace
acid/clay with hydrogen treatment because of regulations
against acid discharge. These are a 36,000 gallon per stream
day plant due to start up in Syracuse, Sicily during 1974,
and a 20,000 gallon per stream day plant due to start up in
Belgrade, Yugoslavia during 1976. It is believed that propane
extraction will be used in these plants to prepare the lube
fraction for hydrogen treating.
INDUSTRIAL WASTE OILS
A Meinken plant in Sweden makes heating oil from indus-
trial waste oils. This is basically a dehydration/filtration
68
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operation. Fatty oils can be handled by increasing dehy-
dration temperature from about 150°C (302°F) to 200°C
(392°F) to decompose the fatty oils and drive them over-
head.
69
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SECTION VIII
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT OF WASTE
DISCHARGES FROM PROCESSING OF WASTE OILS
The adverse effects of oil released to the environment
disposal have been widely discussed in the literature, and
reviewed in an EPA report to Congress. 43 A qualitative
summary of the various aspects of waste oil disposal can be
found in Table 13. This discussion deals primarily with the
description and effects of solid, liquid, and gaseous e-
missions from waste oil processing. A discussion of health
and safety aspects is provided in Appendix G.
WASTE PRODUCTS GENERATED
Acid/clay waste oil re—refining plants produce two waste
products: acid sludge and spent clay. At least two re—
ref iners, who pretreat with caustic or a caustic—silicate
mixture, also product a waste caustic sludge.
The distillation/clay process produces a high ash bottoms
product and spent clay. At least one processor uses a pre-
treatment step which results in a high solids content sludge
recovered by centrifugation. The sludge may be acidic or
basic depending on whether caustic is used. Other processors
are known to filter raw drain oil, producing a high solids
content sludge.
The following discussion will serve to characterize the
major waste products encountered in re—refining, including
air emissions and wastewater. Environmental r egulations and
disposal practices are discussed later in this Section.
Acid Sludge
Sulfuric acid treating results in reactions with and
dissolving of metal salts, aromatic and asphaltic compounds,
organic acids, water, and other polar compounds. A phase
separation occurs whereby acid sludge settles and is removed
from the treating vessel leaving relatively pure oil behind.
For a five volume percent acid treatment (about 10 weight
percent), sludge production is about 0.15 gallons per gallon
of lube product, or about 0.1 gallons per gallon of drain
oil.
70
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TABLE 13.
THE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE OILS
AND WASTE OIL RESIDUES
WASTE OILS
Automotive Lubricants
(primarily crankcase
oil, but contains
transmission fluid,
gear lubricants,
hydraulic oil, solvents,
brake fluid, possibly
antifreeze)
SOURCE
Automotive
Service
Facilities (mc i.
discarded
filters,
and discarded
vehicles)
COMMON C0NTAM IN ANTS
(also see Tables for
Additives)
Compounds of N,O, and Cl,
water, gasoline, metal
and carbon particles,
Pb and other metal
compounds (See Tables
1 and 2 for further
detail)
PRIME CONTAMINANTS
LIMITING REUSE OR
SIMPLE DISPOSAL
Color and odor bodies
(N an .J 0 compounds),
suspended inorganics
PRINCIPAL TREATMENT
AND DISPOSM. METHODS
NOW USED
(Disadvantages)
1. Re-refining (residue
disposal)
2. Fuel (tube deposits
and particle emission)
3. Road oil. and dust con-
trol (runoff)
Railroad Diesel
Lubricants
(primarily diesel lube,
but may contain journal
oil, gear lubricants)
Truck Diesel Lubricants
(primarily diesel lube
but may contain trans-
mission fluid, gear
lubricants, hydraulic
oil, etc.)
Metal Working Lubricants
(often emulsified with
water)
Similar to automotive
lubricants, but no Pb
May contain fatty oils,
S,N,C1,F from original
fluid + metal particles,
oxidation and degradation
compounds, sediment
Color and odor bodies
(N and 0 compounds),
suspended inorganics
Color and odor bodies
(N and 0 compounds),
suspended inorganics
Metal particles,
sediment
1. Re—refining (residue
disposal>
2. Fuel (tube deposits
and particle emission)
3. Road oil and dust con-
trol (runoff)
1. Re—refining (residue
disposal)
2. Fuel (tube deposits
and particle emission)
3. Road oil and dust con-
trol (runoff)
1. Chip extraction and
settling at elevated
temp. (oily solid
wastes)
2. Settling & Skinuning
(oily water waste &
oil flocs and sludges)
3. Incineration (particle
and other emissions)
Railroad
Service
Facilities
Truck Service
Facilities
Metal Working
P1 ants
Similar to automotive
lubricants but no Pb
-------
TABLE 13.
THE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE OILS
AND WASTE OIL RESIDUES (Continued)
WASTE 01 1. RESIDUES
Acid Sludge
(93—98% Sulfuric acid/
oil sludge, on the
order of 30% water
soluble)
Caustic Sludge
(caustic, sodiwn silicate,
water, metals, oily
sludge)
Spent Clay
(oil and impurity con-
taminated clay cake)
Pretreat Residues
(sludge of oil, water,
and inorganic residues)
Distillation or
Extraction Bottoms
(heavy oil fraction
high in inorqanics)
SOURCE
Acid treating
of wast, oil.
to remove metals
and other con-
taminants
Caustic treat-
ing of waste
oils to break
emulsions
Clay treating of
waste oils to
remove impurities,
improve odor and
color
Residues
from settling,
filtration,
centrifugation,
and other pre—
treatments
Diet lila t ion
or extraction
to concentrate
non-volatile
contaminants
CO lON CONTAMINANTS
N250 4 , PB from crankcase
oils, metals and metallic
compounds • polymers,
heavy oil residues -
(see Tables 15—17)
NaOIi, Na silicates, Pb
and other metallic
Compounds
Oil, organjc con-
taining N and 0
(see Table 18)
Pb from crankcase
oils, other metals and
metallic Compounds,
heavy oil residues (also
discarded filter papers,
clothe, filter aids)
Pb from crankcase oils,
other metals and
metallic compounds,
heavy oil residues,
coke
PRIME CONTAMINANTS
LIMITING REUSE OR
SIMPLE DISPOSAL
H 2 S0 4 , Pb, and other
metals, oil.
Pb and other metals,
oil
Oil and other
organ ice
Pb and other metals,
oil
Pb and other metals
PRINCIPAL TREATMENT
AND DISPOSAL METHODS
NOW USED
(Disadvantages)
1. Landfill with or with-
out mixing refuse
(water pollution)
2. Lagoons (temporary)
1. Landfill (water
pollution, slow de-
gradation)
2. Lagoons (temporary)
1. Landfill (water
pollution, sl de-
gradation)
1. Landf ill (water
pollution, slow
degradation)
1. Lagoons (temporary)
2. Asphalt
3. Puel (air pollution)
-------
TABLE 13.
THE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE OILS
AND WASTE OIL RESIDUES (Continued)
Condenser Liquids
(water from oil and
stripping steam & light
hydrocarbons; condensed
steam and cooling water
where steam jet vacuum
with barometric condenser
used)
SOURCE COMMON CONThMINANTS
Acid and other
processing
steps, Water
Treatment,
Vents, Open
Tanks, Leaks
Distillation
Overheads
PRIME CONTAMINANTS
LIMITING REUSE OR
SIMPLE DISPOSAL
Odors
Emulsions, dis—
solved organics
PRINCIPAL TREATMENT
AND DISPOSAL METHODS
NOW USED
(Disadvantages)
1. Serubbers (water
pollution)
2. Vent to furnaces
1. Separators (poor
efficiency, wet oil
residue)
2. Separators/Cooling
Towers/Recycle (water
pollution from blow—
down)
Scrubber Waters
(usually aqueous NH 3
or caustic with
impurities)
Gas Scrubbing
to eliminate
SO 2 , SO 3 , and
other volatile
acids
NaOH or NH 4 OH , SO 2 ,
SO 3 , water soluble
organ ics
Water soluble
organica
1. Recycle (water
pollution from blow—
down)
2. Acid treatment of
blowdown (dissolved
solids residue)
Runoff and Other Oily
Waters
Oily Waters
from spilled
oils, Leaks,
Cooling Tower
Slowdown, Other
Sources
Furnace Tubes
and Other
Piping
Metallic compounds,
polymer, coke
1. Separators (poor
efficiency, dirt/wet
oil residues)
2. Impoundment for reuse
(possible water
pollution)
1. Landfill (water
pollution from ash
olubles)
WASTE OIL RESIDUES
Odors
May be trace hydro-
carbons, solvents,
organic acids, esters,
0, N, S containing
compounds, SOP, SO 3 ,
N H 3 , etc.
Phenols, other dis-
solved organics, oil
Ash and Coke
Oil, dirt
Oil
-------
TABLE 13.
THE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE OILS
AND WASTE OIL RESIDUES (Continued)
SOURCE
Industrial
Plants, Power
Plants (mci.
discarded trans—
format-s and
machinery)
Food Textile
Plant I
Industrial
Plants,
Ref Leer iss,
Marine Service
Facilities,
Fuel terminals,
Oil Spill
Cleanup
COMMO CONTAMINANTS
(also see Tables for
Additives)
Turbine Oils: water,
ox id - products
Transformer Oils:
water, oxid-products,
polychiorinated oils,
Gear oils: S. Pb, dirt,
wear metal, water, oxid-
products
Coagulante from oil re-
covery, trace contami-
nants including metals
Sand, dirt, salts, virgin
oil metals such as V,
Ni, Fe. foreign matter
such as sorbente
PRIME CONTAMINANTS
LIMITING REUSE OR
SIMPLE DISPOSAL
Metal particles,
water, degradation
products
1. See methods for auto-
motive lubricants
2. Clay treating (spent
clay waste)
3. Filtration (filter aid
and particle waste)
4. Centrifugation
(particle waste)
5. Recovery to prepare
soluble oils
6. Incineration (air
pollution)
1. Recovery and repro-
cessing for soap
manufacture
1. Separators (poor
efficiency, wet oil
waste)
2. Riochemical treat-
ment (expensive,
sludge waste)
3. Combined Municipal/
Industrial wastewater
plants (pretreatment
necessary, possible
toxic materials,
sludge waste)
4. Physical/chemical
treatment (expensive,
water contamination
with chemicals)
WASTE OILS
Other Industrial Oil.
(turbine oil., trans-
former oils, lubricants.
hydraulic oils, heat
transfer fluids,
synthetic oils, etc.)
Animal S Vegetable Fats
a Oils (Solids or Liquids)
Oily Water
PRINCIPM.. TREATMENT
AND DISPOSAL METHODS
NOW USED
(Disadvantages)
Color, odor
suisions, soluble
organics, foreign
matter
-------
TABLE 13. THE TREATMENT AND DISPOSAL OF WASTE OILS
AND WASTE OIL RESIDUES (Continued)
PRINCIPAL TREATMENT
COMMON CONTAMINANTS PRIME CONTAMINANTS AND DISPOSAL METHODS
(Also see Tables for LIMITING REUSE OR NOW USED
WASTE OILS SOURCE Additives) SIMPLE DISPOSAL ( Disadvantages )
Oily Sludges, Tar., Tank Cleaning, Coke particles, S, N, Solids, 5, N, 0, 1. Incineration (possible
Scums, Flocs Refineries, 0, halides, coagulanta, halides air pollution)
Coke and water 2. Landfill (water and
Petrochemical air pollution)
Plants, Oil 3. Ocean disposal (water
Spills, Waste— pollution)
water Treat- 4. Lagoons (temporary)
ment
Of fspec and Contaminated Refineries, Light hydrocarbons, Emulsions, sedi— 1. Distillation (possible
Fuels Tank Cleaning, sludges, solvents, ments, color, water and residue
Airports, water, salts, trace odor problems)
Pipelines, contaminants 2. Fuels (possible air
Fuel Terminals, pollution)
Marine service 3. Incineration (possible
Facilities air pollution)
-------
Some of the characteristics of the sludge are presented
in Tables 14—16. Since little data is available, it is not
known whether these analyses are typical. The high acid con-
tent requires that sludge be handled as carefully as the
original acid. As much as 30—50% of the acid sludge is water
soluble, complicating land disposal. Lead content, believed
to be in the 2 to 10% range, primarily as Sulfate, is another
important factor to be considered.
The acid sludge is similar to some sludges produced in
petroleum refineries. The volume of these refinery sludges
has been decreasing as hydrogen treating has replaced acid
treating. Petroleum refineries have disposed of acid sludges
by incineration, acid recovery, landfill, and neutralization
with disposal to wastewater.
All acid sludge disposal by U. S. re—refiners is to
landfills or lagoons, usually without neutralization. Neu-
tralization and incineration, practiced in Europe, leads to
high SO 2 emissions. Acid recovery is too expensive on a
small scale and transportation costs are too high to justify
centralized recovery plants. Disposal to wastewater can only
be practiced where high volume wastewater treatment facilities
are available for dilution.
Caustic Sludge
Caustic sludge is generated from emulsion breaking of
waste oils. Only two re—refiners in the U. S. are known to
be definitely using this approach, though other waste oil
processors may be doing so. The sludge contains caustic,
sodium silicate, lead and other metals, and oily sludge. No
analyses of caustic sludge have been found.
Spent Clay
Although little data is available, the clay recovered
from re—refining filter presses is believed to contain about
10-40% oil. At 0.4 pounds of clay per gallon of oil treat-
merit rate,this results in a 0.5 to 2% oil loss. An analysis
for spent clay from petroleum refining is provided in Table
17. Minor components in the spent clay may include oxygen
and nitrogen containing polar organic compounds, carbonaceous
residues, acid residues, and other polar compounds.
Spent clay is ordinarily disposed of to a landfill,
though some uses have been found. For example, clay con-
taining oil has been used as a surfacing material for stables
76
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Table 14. ACID SLUDGE ANALYSIS
Derived from 1971 Re-Refiner Data for sulfuric acid treated
sludge.
WT. %
Diesel Stock*
% Acid 47.5 40.8
Ash Sulfate 4.45 11.26
Sulfur 14.9 14.1
Sulfur calculated from
% acid assuming fl 2 S0 4 15.5 13.3
Coithustibles —---30-42
ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS, ppm
Cu 40 40
Al 40 140
Pe 500 1,100
Si 800 1,400
Pb 1,000 20,0.00
Aq 14 0
Zn 200 2,100
Ba 400 1,300
Cr 190 50
Ca 12,600 6,400
Na 200 4,000
P 1,000 4,300
B 40 50
Ni 10 30
Sn 35 30
Mg 70 1,000
17,139 41,940
1.71% 4.19%
Sulfated ash by
calculation from
elemental analysis 5.35% 9.39%
* ‘roin independent collectors. All or primarily crankcase oil.
77
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Table 15. ACID SLUDGE ANALYSIS*
SOLUBLE IN WATER WT. %
Ash 4.2
Acid (H 2 S0 4 ) 27.0
INSOLUBLE IN WATER
Ash 8.4
Acids 1.6
Volatiles (150°C. @ 1 mm Hg) 0.8
Lube Oil (naphthenes,
paraf fins, aromatics) 15.5
Polymers 15.6
Other Polar Compounds 1.8
Ashphaltenes and Other
Residues 24.4
99 . 3
* Derived from Putscher 2 ’
78
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Table 16. PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF ACID SLUDGE
From 1971 Re—Refiner Data for
sulfuric acid sludge
Density, lbs/gal. 10.0
Viscosity, SSU
75° F. 4,000,000
105° F. 457,000
125° F. 150,600
pH 0.1
79
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Table 17 ANALYSIS OF PETROLEUM REFINING
SPENT CONTACT CLAYS ”’
AVE RAGE RAN GE
BTU/lb. 6000 1000 — 9250
Particle Size,
sieve no. 170 30 — 300
Volatile Solids,
wt. % 14 0 55
Ash, wt. % 53 0 — 99
Water, wt. % 8 0 - 36
Oil, wt. % 19 1 — 45
pH 5.6 3.5 7.5
80
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and unpaved road stabilization. Petroleum refineries have
regenerated clays by incineration for re-use and disposal,
but this approach is expensive on a small scale.
Other Residues
A variety of other solid, semi-solid, or liquid resi-
dues may result from waste oil processing, including tank
cleaning sludges, furnace coke, combustion ash, wastewater
flocs and scums, etc. All of these are normally disposed
of with refuse or separately landfilled, though oil recovery
by dewatering and blending may be practiced on some tank
sludges.
Distillation Bottoms
When drain oil is purified by vaporizing the desired
product, leaving behind high boiling and non-volatile
materials, the residue becomes a waste disposal problem.
The residue, or distillation bottoms, is considerably
higher in ash, sülfür, nitrogen, oxygen, and acidity content
than the lube product. Total ash may reach 10-25%, with
lead contents ranging from 5-15% depending on the fraction
not vaporized, on the ash and lead contents of the drain oil,
and on the extent of pretreatment.
Distillation bottoms have been used as an asphalt
blending stock, or they have been stored in lagoons. An
EPA grant program is underway to demonstrate the utility of
this material as a fuel in secondary lead smelting.
Air Emissions
A properly controlled processing plant will emit few
contaminants to the atmosphere. Early plants contatrjed
many open vessels, but few of these are now left. Vents
from process and wastewater treatment units and storage
tanks in many re—refining plants are discharged to a furnace
where vented combustible materials are burned. In other
plants caustic or ammonia scrubbers are used.
Little is known about the actual composition of the
gases, but some odors are apparent around most re—refining
facilities. The odors are no worse and probably somewhat
less intense than those encountered around petroleum re-
fineries. Most likely these odors are caused by esters and
other organic compounds containing oxygen and nitrogen.
Very low concentrations of organic sulfur compounds may
81
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also be present, as well as some SO 2 and SO 3 from acid sludge
handling where acid treating is practiced.
Wastewater
The wastewater from a re—refining plant comes from
several sources: water separated from the raw drain oil;
cooling water used in indirect heat exchange; cooling water
contaminated by direct contact with oil, e.g. in the baro-
metric condenser of a vacuum system; water from condensed
steam which contacts oil, e.g. in steam jet vacuum systems,
or stripping steam; vent gas scrubbers; and plant runoff
water. Both acid/clay and distillation/clay plants are
equipped with oil/water separators and neutralization
facilities to handle the process water separated from the oil.
Vacuum distillations are usually performed with steam jets
and barometric condensers, requiring oil/water separation
for these effluents as well. Cooling water used indirectly
is sometimes provided on a once—through basis with no treat-
ing, sometimes recycled with the aid of a cooling tower, and
occasionally joined to other water streams entering an oil/
water separator. Some re—refiners also provide for oil!
water separators on runoff water.
In the best operations, all direct contact condensers
are replaced by indirect air or water cooling; and steam use
is minimized by providing efficient mechanical vacuum pumps.
Maximum water recycle is practiced with efficient oil sepa-
ration from the process and runoff waters. Purge water is
sent to a municipal sewer plant or trucked to a landfill site.
Advanced wastewater treatment systems for “zero” emissions
are not now in use.
The characteristics of wastewaters obviously depend upon
the type of oil processed, the nature of the process and of
wastewater treatment facilities, housekeeping, the degree of
recycle, and other factors. However, one expects to find
traces of metals which appear in the raw oils, dissolved and
suspended solids, dissolved phenols and other organics, arid
suspended or emulsified oil. These expectations are borne
out by samples obtained by the contractor and analyzed. These
are discussed in the following section.
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CHARACTERIZATION OF WASTEWATERS FROM OIL RECYCLING FACILITIES
Wastewaters from a marine waste oil processing plant and
from a re—refining facility were sampled and analyzed as part
of the program to understand potential pollution problems
associated with waste oil recycling. Re—refining crankcase
waste oils to lubes is of interest because it is one major
type of recycling. Other waste oil processing plants are
much more variable in type. The marine waste oil processing
plant was chosen mainly because it discharged a relatively
large quantity of water from an oil/water separator.
The Marine Waste Oil Processing Facility
This facility consisted of an oil/water separator with
two inlets, one water discharge, and an oil recovery system
(Figure 5). The recovered oil is pumped to storage. Samples
were obtained from the inlet and discharge streams, the
bottom of the separator unit itself, and from the recovered
oil.
The separator receives feed from tanks used to store
oil/water mixtures from a tanker Butterworth steam cleaning
system. The feed varies continuously in percentage of oil
and water, salinity, and type of oil. The recovered oil from
the separator is sometimes recycled to the separator to
further reduce the water content. The finished oil is stored,
blended, and burned in the plant boilers which produce steam
for Butterworth and other operations. The amount of oil re-
covered from the operation is estimated to be one million
gallons per year.
The oil/water separator has an approximate holding capa-
city of 14,000 gallons and is operated at a temperature of
120°F. The unit is divided into a series of compartments by
steel plates which separate the oil at the surface and allow
water to pass underneath toward the discharge pipe. At the
surface, pipes cut in half are used as troughs to draw off
the top layer of oil, emptying it into a basin. From there
the recovered oil is pumped to storage or recycled thru the
unit.
The wastewater is discharged from the unit by gravity
flow via a 4 inch pipe which draws from the bottom of the
separator. The wastewater is then piped into a city storm
sewer which empties directly into the saline harbor. The
residence time in the tank was calculated to be 3.6 hours
with a discharge rate of 3,900 gallons per hour, operating
83
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A
FEEDER- B
STOCK
INLET
SAMPLES
WATER DRAWN —18” FROM
BOTTOM OF TJINR
(DISCHARGE TO CITY STORM
SEWER)
WATER
DISCHARGE
C SAMPLE
OIL TO
STORAGE OR
RECYCLE
WASTE OIL PROCESSOR
OIL-WATER SEPARATOR UNIT
D RECOVERED
OIL
SAMPLE
flAFFLE
SKIMMING DEVICES
TANK
WALL
OIL
STEAM HEATING ELEMENTS
Figure 5
-------
over an 8 hour day. The discharge rate was measured by
timing the accumulation of five gallon quantities.
The Lube Oil Re-Refining Facility
The re-refining facility uses acid arid/or clay to
process both automotive crankcase drain oils and industrial
waste oils. The oil is processed in approximately 7,000
gallon batches with an estimated daily production of about
20,000 gallons. The oil/water separator handles both process
wastewaters and storm water runoff.
Unfortunately, many of the wastewater streams at the
refinery were underground, making them inaccessible for
sampling. Water samples were collected from the primary
separator, which handles the clay treater/stripper overhead;
suinp water accumulated in the dehydrator; purge water from
the cooling circuit; and the bottom of the separator near
the discharge pipe. The actual discharge line was inaccess—
ible.
The acid—clay refining operation is illustrated in Fig-
ure 6. The feedstock is pumped from storage to the dehyd-
rator which operates between 210 and 220°F., using an air-
sparger to mix the oil. The water vapor overhead is released
directly to the atmosphere. A small quantity of water is
periodically discharged from the bottom of the dehydrator
(sampling point A). The dehydrated oil is sent to dry stor-
age.
Dry oil is later pumped to the acid treating units.
Acid sludge from the units are hauled to another site,
neutralized and discarded in a landfill. The acid—treated
dehydrated oil is transferred to the clay treating operation
where clay is added, forming a slurry which is pumped to the
clay contact/stripping column. The temperature of the batch
is brought up to 550°F. by circulating through the column
and the furnace, with the light fuel fractions going off
overhead. Steam is added to the bottom of the column for
agitation and to aid stripping. The overhead vapor, con-
sisting of light oils and water, is condensed and separated.
The light oils are sent to storage, and the wastewaters to a
sump (sampling point B).
The hot oil containing the clay is passed through a
cooling box to reduce the temperature to approximately 230°F.
before being filtered in the first press. A second cooling
box further reduces the temperature to 150°F. prior to the
85
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Discharge r5 —
to sump
Disposal
WASTE OIL RE-REPINING PROCESS
Fi iter
Discharge to
City Sewer
Separator Secondary
For all Discharge Waters
Water
Oil
r
Water Vapor
I
Acid Treater
Waste Oil I
Feed Dehydrator
1
J
cx
Make-Up Water
(City
water)
I $
$ I
I
I
A
Suxnp Water 1
(periodic) 1
Separator
-Primary
to
Box
Filter
Storm Sewers
(Run-Off from Yard)
Oil to Storage
Figure 6
-------
final or backup filter. The re-refined oil is then pumped
to storage.
Condensed steam, run—off water from the refinery yard,
and all wastewater streams from the operation run directly
through a sump to the main oil—water separator before being
discharged to a city sewer. The estimated discharge rate
from the re-refining process is 10,320 gallons per day, ex-
cluding runoff water from the yard. At this rate a calcu-
lated residence time for the main oil—water separator unit
is 28 hours. Including runoff waters from the yard, the
rate of discharge is greatly increased and the residence
time is significantly decreased. For example, with a three
inch rainfall within a 24 hour period and all runoff waters
going through the separator unit, the total discharge volume
was calculated to be about 700,000 gallons per day, reducing
the average residence time to only 30-35 minutes.
Sampling Procedures
Due to differences in the two waste oil processes, the
sampling procedure varied. Duplicate samples at the final
discharge point were taken in both cases.
Marine Waste Oil Processing — For the marine waste oil pro-
cessing operation, inlet and discharge samples (see Figure 5)
were taken directly from the process stream in a plastic
bucket and then transferred to prepared sample bottles.
Bottom samples from the separator unit were drawn using a ten
foot by 1/2 inch aluminum pipe. The pipe was plugged at one
end, and the other end submerged to the bottom of the tank.
The plug was then removed allowing water to enter the pipe.
Replugging the pipe, it was withdrawn and emptied into ap-
propriate sample bottles.
Re-Refining - For the waste oil re-refining operation the
wastewater streams were sampled as follows (see Figure 6);
At sample point A, wastewater discharge from the bottom
of the dehydrator was obtained by opening a valve and
filling the sample bottle. Only a small quantity of
water could be collected at this point.
At sample point B, wastewater condensed with the clay
contact/stripper overhead and passed through a sepa-
rator empties directly into the sump. Sample bottles
were placed directly under the discharge pipe, rinsed
several times, and filled.
87
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At sample point 6, purge water from the cooling tower
was dumped into the same sump. Samples of the purge
water were also obtained by rinsing and filling bottles
directly under the outlet pipe.
At sample point D, the combined or total discharge
(released to the city sewer) for the entire re—refining
process passes through the bottom of the last compart-
ment of the secondary oil-water separator. A weighted
one liter glass stoppered sampling bottle was lowered
to the bottom of the separator unit near the discharge
pipe and opened at that point by the use of a second
cord. The bottle was pulled to the surface*, emptied,
and the process repeated to obtain enough sample for
all analyses in duplicate. This unorthodox method of
sampling was necessary because discharge pipes leading
to the city sewer system were underground and inaccess-
ible.
In all sampling operations the appropriate preservatives
were added to samples where required and all samples were
transported in ice chests. The pH and temperatures were
measured and recorded onsite and unless otherwise noted, all
samples were collected, labled, preserved, and stored in
compliance with EPA recommendations.’
Analyses
All analyses were conducted in accordance with EPA’s
“Methods for Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastes,” 5 or
“Standard methods for the Examination of Water and Waste-
water,h1 4 & when referenced by the EPA methods (phenol corn-
pounds, pH, B0D 5 , elemental spectrographic analysis). The
analyses performed on the samples collected were:
Oil and Grease Dissolved Solids
BOD 5 Nitrates
COD Phenols
TOC pH
Total Solids Elemental Spectrographic Analysis
Suspended Solids
* Due to the sampling bottle being open as it was pulled up
thru the oil layer contamination of the water sample with
oil is possible and thus reflected in the data (see Table
19, Discharge Samples).
88
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Results of analyses and explanatory footnotes pertinent to
the sampling method or sample handling are found in Tables
19 and 20.
Discussion of Results
Waste oil re-refining and processing operations appear
to discharge a relatively small quantity of wastewaters per
unit volume of product when storm runoff waters are not con-
sidered.
The operations sampled did not have direct means of
measuring wastewater flow rates. Therefore, for both op-
erations the discharge rates were calculated from measure-
ments taken in the field or extrapolated from records of
purchased city water.
Sampling point accessibility created no problem except
in the case of the discharge stream to the city sewer of the
re-refining operation, as previously explained. This problem
illustrates the necessity for provision of adequate sampling
facilities for wastewater discharge.
Analytical methods for analysis of oily wastewaters re-
quire further investigation and standardization to overcome
the influence of non-homogeneity due to oil globules in the water
sample. An example is the total organic carbon (TOC) analysis.
It seems likely that oil globules can greatly alter the TOC
values, depending upon the manner in which the sample is
handled prior to injection into the analyzer. The COD and
BOD values can also be influenced by oil globules.
Specific Federal effluent guidelines have not been
established for waste oil recycling facilities. However, it
is interesting to compare the results obtained in this study
for the marine oil processor with maximum Federal guidelines
proposed for discharge into surface waters by petroleum
refiners, and for some typical restrictions for discharge to
municipal treatment plants:
Effluent Dis- Typical
charge Measure— Federal Municipal
inent for Marine Guide- Restric-
Oil Processor lines tions
Oil & Grease, ppm (avg.) 95 10 100
BOD 5 , ppm (avg.) 19 9 300
COD, ppm (avg.) 192 31.7 700
TOC, ppm 60 7.7
Phenol, ppm 15.5 0.07
Suspended Solids, ppm 304 5.8 350
89
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The processor effluent would appear to be suitable for dis-
charge to municipal treatment, but not to surface waters.
The re—refiner effluent has not been compared because the
high contaminant levels measured may be due to the sampling
procedure, as previously explained.
90
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TABLE 18. WASTE OIL PROCESSOR (MARINE WASTE OILS)
OIL/WATER SEPARATOR
PHENOL POTAL flISSOLVED SUSPENDED *MXSSION SPECTRAL
BODç COD TOC OIL COMPOUNDS p 11 NITRATES SOLIDS SOLIDS SOLIDS SURVEY Wi -
Discharge mg/i 450 C. mg/i mg/i mg/i Na(2.l-21d : Mg,
C 12:00 Noon 16.5 90 TU T [ 0J 6.1 .0S 2T5oo TToo Ca(.2—2.l); Fe,Si
(.002—.021.); Al,
Mn,B(.0002—.002)
C 2:15 PM 22.7 295 64 87 17 6.7 0.70 22,000 22,000 304 Na(2.l—21.);Mg,Ca
(.21—2.l); Fe,Si
(.002—.021); Mo,
Cu( . 00 02—. 002)
Inlet
A .13.8 290 64 317 14 7.4 0.25 22,000 23,000 291 Na(1.0—10.); Mg,
12:00 Noon Ca(.l0—l.0); Fe,
Si(.001—.01) ;Mn,
B(.0 00 i—.001)
‘ 0
B ———s 1,210 8,500 9,544 ———s 6.3 0.60 15,000 14,000 969 None (1.7—17.0):
2:00 PM Pe,Mg,Na(.17—l.7);
Al ,Si ,Pb,Ba-Cr,
Mn,Ni,Mo ,V,Cu,Zfl,
(.017—.17); Zr,
Ca,Ti(.00l7—.0 17)
Recovered
Oil
D Pe,Ma,Na,Ca(.19-
1.9); Al,Si,V,
(.019—.19) : Cr,Sb.
Pb,Mn,Ni,Cu,Zn,Ti,
Ba(.0019—.019)
Bottom
S amp lea
11 ——— ——— ——— 178,000
02 ——— ——— ——— 159,000
Waste waters wer. contaminated with sea water since they resulted front tank cieanings from marine tankers.
Due to a large amount of oil present in sample, no color developed when titrated for SOD analysis. The large amount of oil also
interfered with the phenol determination.
-------
TABLE 19. WASTE OIL RE-REFINER
PHENOL, TOTAL DISSOLVED SUSPENDED EMISSION SPECTRAL
SAMPLE BODc COD TOC’ OIL COMPOUNDS pH NITRATES SOLIDS SOLIDS SOLIDS SURVEY’
Dischar e(D)’ mg/i mg/i mg/i mg/i 150 C. mg/i Strong Medium
11:30 All 2.7 (31,808’) 163 (3,023’) 92 (150) 6.0 0.81’ 959 512. 394 Pe,Mg,Ca, Si
Na
Discharge (0)
12:30 PM 4.0 (16,943’) 382 (3,629’) 84 6.1 0.64’ 2256 931 401 Pe,Mg,Ca, Si
Na
Primary
Separator
Discharge(B ) 6.0 792 121 168 69 4.1 0.25 493 483 4 Fe ,Mg,Ca Na
Cooling
Tower
Blow Dowu(C ) 4.0 43 43 9 4 6.5 None 180 172 7 Mg,Ca,Na
—— detectable
Water From
Bottom of g/l
Dehydration
Unit (A) ——— ——— ——— 16 5.8 Ca (.39—3.9); Fe,
Si,Mg,Na(.039—.39);
Al,Pb,Mn ,Ni,B,Zn
(.0039 —.039 ) ;Mo ,
Cu ,Co ,Br
000 39—. 00 39)
Discharge samples taken from bottom of secondary separator unit near discharge pipe by a special sample bottle to open under-
water. However, samples may have been contaminated as sample bottle was pulled thru the surface layer of oil. This unorthodox
method of sampling was necessary because all discharge pipes were underground and inaccessible.
150 mg phenolic compounds/l was reported by outside laboratory for sample 0 11:30 All.
I Concentrations reported as only “strong” or “medium” by outside lab.
Only a small amount of water sample was obtainable from point A
‘ TOC analyses were conducted excluding any large oil globulas found in the samples.
-------
EXISTING AND FUTUP E REGULATIONS
While specific regulations covering the disposal of
waste oils and emissions from the processing of waste oils
do not exist at the Federal level, and are uncommon at state
and local levels, existing regulations for solid waste dis-
posal, water effluent limitation guidelines and new source
standards, and air quality and emission standards do provide
some protection against indiscriminate disposal. There is
also a strong possibility that new laws and regulations in
the areas of solid waste disposal, hazardous wastes, and
air and water pollution control will provide further pro-
tection.
Solid Wastes and Land Disposal
On the Federal level, guidelines for disposal of solid
wastes have been proposed 47 which, if promulgated, will
establish EPA—recommended guidelines for adoption by state
and local governments and for direct implementation by
federal agencies.
These guidelines recommend against accepting wastes for
incineration in municipal thermal processing installations
if they are hazardous to human health or the environment,
if the installation was not specifically designed for the
waste, if the chemical and biological characteristics are
detrimental to personnel or the facility, if legal require-
ments for air quality, water quality, health or safety will
be violated.
For sanitary landfills, these guidelines generally are
similar to the thermal processing guidelines, but recognize
that it may be necessary to accept special wastes such as
hazardous wastes, bulk liquids, semi—solids, wet sludges,
flammable or volatile substances, and industrial process
wastes, but special assessments are recommended such as site
characteristics and nature and amounts of the wastes.
EPA has recommended to Congress that leqislation be
enacted to control hazardous waste disposal to the land. 48
It has compiled information on the types of materials in
wastes which could be regarded as hazards to public health.
A few types which may appear in some waste oils are corn—
pounds of heavy metals, including lead; organic halogen
compounds, including polychiorinated biphenyls; miscel-
laneous organic compound, including carcinogens; and
flammables. However, even when present in waste oils from
automotive service and industry, these materials usually
93
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appear at low concentrations, with the possible exception
of lead compounds, and flammables.
The proposed Hazardous Waste Management Act calls for
authority to regulate the treatment and disposal of hazar-
dous wastes. k8
On the state and local level 9 few regulations deal
with land disposal of waste oil residues. Some (e.g. Ok —
lahoma City, Oklahoma) approve disposal procedures of
liquids, hazardous materials and the like. Others (e.g.
Chesterfield Township, Michigan) provide procedures which
landfills must use if these types of wastes are received.
California has set aside certain landfills suitable for
chemical wastes to be used for that purpose. Still others
(e.g. Westport, Connecticut) ban “dangerous explosive or
inflammable materials.” At least one state (New Jersey)
requires that the waste producer provide sufficient infor-
niation to the disposer to insure safe disposal of hazardous
and/or chemical wastes; it also prohibits direct or in-
direct contact of chemical wastes (liquid or solid) with
surface or ground waters.
Water
On the Federal level, the Federal Water Pollution Con-
trol Act Amendments of 1972, Public Law 92-500 replaced all
previous Federal water laws. The critical feature of this
act requires effluent limitations consistent with “best
practicable” control technology by July 1, 1977, and con-
sistent with “best available” technology by July 1, 1983.
Pursuant to the 1972 law, EPA is issuing effluent limi-
tations for twenty—nine industries, including petroleum re-
fining and other industries where oil contaminated waste—
water is likely to be encountered. In addition, this act
gives EPA, the Coast Guard, and other agencies broad au-
thority to clean up oil spills, make polluter pay costs of
cleanup, and levy fines and penalties. Discharge of hazar-
dous substances is also covered.
EPA has issued regulations to prevent oil spills into
water, requiring potential “spillers” to prepare “Spill
Prevention Control and Countermeasure Plans. ” 5 ° These
regulations affect,for example, oil refineries, industrial
users of oil, fuel oil dealers, drillers, bulk petroleum
facility operators, and waste oil processors.
94
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The Marine Protection, Research and Sanctuaries Act of
1972, effective on October 27, 1972, declared national
policy “to regulate the dumping of all types of materials
into ocean waters and to prevent or strictly limit the dump-
ing into ocean waters of any material which would adversely
affect human health, welfare or amenities, or the marine
environment, ecological systems or economic potentialities.”
On the state level, New Jersey, for example, has regu-
lations specifically prohibiting discharge of oil refining
“sludge acid,” and deleterious, destructive or oisonous
substances of any kind into any body of water. 5 In addition,
New Jersey has prepared guidelines for “best practicable”
technology for oil and petroleum based industries’ emissions
(guidelines are not standards and are subject to change) 52
which include, among other requirements, limits of 1.0 ppm
for oil and grease, 0.05 mg/I for phenols, and 30 mg/i for
TOC. The oil and grease guideline is considerably more
stringent than the 10 ppm encountered in Federal effluent
limitations, and very difficult to meet.
As another example, Illinois prohibits visible oil,
unnatural sludge or bottom deposits, floating debris, odor,
unnatural color or turbidity, and toxic or harmful con-
centrations of matter, and prescribes limits for many ele-
ments in the State’s waters. 53
In addition, Illinois prescribes maximum concentrations
of contaminants which may be discharged:
Settleable solids, floating debris,
visible oil, grease, scum, or sludge
solids (referred to as offensive discharges) None
Color, odor and turbidity Below obvious levels
BOD 5 SS
BOD and Suspended Solids(SS) mg/l mg/l
General 30 37
Sources with untreated waste 20 25
load of 10,000 population
Specific situations 4—40 5—45
Effluent with dilution ratio 10 12
of less than 5/1
Effluent with dilution ratio 4 5
of less than 1/1
After 12/31/1977, sources 4 5
with untreated waste load
of 500,000 population
95
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Bacteria, nitrogen, phosphorus, and the following are
also regulated in effluents:
Constituent Concentration mg/i
Arsenic (total) 0.25
Barium (total) 2.0
Cadmium (total) 0.15
Chromium (total hexavalent) 0.3
Chromium (total trivalent) 1.0
Copper (total 1.0
Cyanide 0.025
Fluoride (total) 2.5
Iron (total) 2.0
Iron (dissolved) 0.5
Lead (total) 0.1
Manganese (total) 1.0
Mercury (total) 0.0005
Nickel (total) 1.0
Oil (hexane solubles or 15.0
equivalent)
pH range 5_l0*
Phenols 0.3
Selenium (total) 1.0
Silver 0.1
Zinc (total) 10.
Total suspended solids 15.0
*The pH limitation is not subject to averaging
and must be met at all times.
Total Dissolved Solids shall not be increased
more than 750 mg/i above background concen-
tration levels unless caused by recycling or
other pollution abatement practices, and in no
event shall exceed 3,500 mg/I at any time.
Air
On the Federal level, the Air Quality Act of 1967 and
the Clean Air Act of 1970 set primary and secondary stan-
dards of ambient air quality and directed the states to
develop and implement plans to achieve the primary stan-
dards by 1975, with a possible two-year extension for tech-
nologically impossible situations. ‘
96
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Standards have been set for sulfur oxide, particulate
matter, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, photochernicals, and
nitrogen oxide. In addition, special Federal authority
exists to control new stationary sources, hazardous air
pollutants, motor vehicle emissions, fuel and fuel addi-
tives, aircraft emissions, and low emission vehicle pro—
curernent.
Performance standards have been devised for five major
stationary sources, and are proposed for seven others, in-
cluding petroleum refineries and storage vessels. 55 For
the petroleum refineries, particulates, carbon monoxide,
and sulfur dioxide are regulated. For storage tanks, hydro-
carbon emissions are regulated (indirectly, by specifying
control measures).
National emission standards have been set by EPA for
asbestos, beryllium, and mercury. Atmospheric lead is known
to be a danger to human health, but national emissions stan-
dards have not yet been set, perhaps because in the EPA
authority hazardous air pollutants were defined as “materials
discharged into the atmosphere that have a proven relation-
ship to increased human death rates.”
On the state level, numerous approaches have been taken
to achieve the air quality standards. Some of the relevant
regulations include prevention of open burning, particulate,
sulfur oxide, and hydrocarbon emission limitations, and
nuisance rules covering odors.
DISPOSAL TECHNIQUES
The disposal of acid sludge from re-refining is the most
serious of the various disposal problems faced by waste oil
processors. Oily flocs and sludges from wastewater treating,
residues from tank settling, and spent clay also present
difficulties. Technology for wastewater treatment and the
prevention of air emissions is available, but expensive.
Acid Sludge
Reconstitution of sulfuric acid from acid sludge has
been done in connection with petroleum refining, but this
has not been and does not appear likely to be a significant
method of disposal for re—refiners, primarily because the
quantity is very small at each location.
Although even the total quantity of acid sludge from
drain oil re-refining in the U. S. is not staggering (about
97
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10 million gallons per year), the nature of this waste makes
disposal a difficult problem, from which all re-refiners
would welcome relief. An unknown but probably lesser
quantity of acid sludge is also generated in the treatment
of industrial waste oils.
Only one re—refiner is still using lagoons for acid
sludge, and obviously this is only a temporary solution. At
least two other re—refiners have lagoons containing acid
sludge and other residues from earlier operations. The
danger in this type of storage is illustrated by an incident
where a re—refiner had his lagoons overflow during a hurri-
cane several years ago, causing a major discharge of con-
taminated oily materials to the nearby river. After la—
gooning, it is extremely expensive to find a method of dis-
posing of the millions of gallons of sludges stored in this
way. Chemical petroleum, and steel companies have had
similar problems.
Landfilling of acid sludge, the most common disposal
method, appears to be a reasonable, though not ideal method
of disposal, provided sufficient safeguards protect person-
nel, ground water, and nearby streams. The sludge is often
mixed with refuse at the landfill site. California has
designated a “number one landfill” suitable for acid sludge
and other oil and chemical disposal. Few other states have
followed suite.
The soluble free—acid probably leaches through
the soil, and in alkaline soil is finally converted to
sulfate salts,entering the ground water or nearby streams.
Some other sulfates in the sludge probably end up the same
way (see Table 19 for sulfate solubilities), but lead,
barium, calcium, silver, arsenic, molybdenum, titanium,
strontium, and other heavy metal salts may remain in the
landfill. The concentrations are low, and should not be a
serious problem, although future use as a growing area may
present some danger. This is illustrated by experience
with the use of sewage sludge containing metals from in-
dustrial sources as a fertilizer, where repeated applications
markedly increased soils chromium, lead, copper, zinc,
mercury, and cadmium contents. 59 However, these metals may
or may not be transferred to vegetation. 60
Work done by Shell Oil under an EPA grant 6 indicated
that soil micro—organisms decompose petroleum oily waste and
that oil and fertilizer chemicals did not penetrate the soil
at the location and conditions of the test. However, resi-
98
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Table 20. SULFATE SOLTJBILITY 57
AND ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS OF ACID SLUDGE INORGANICS 58
MAJOR ELEMENTS IN SOLUBILITY OF SULFATES COMMENTS ON
ACID SLUDGE IN WA’I’ER (GRAM/lOOml ( °C) ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
14.3 (O°) Copper sulfate causes
CuSO 4 75.4 (100 ) irritation of skin
Al 31.3 (0°) A1 2 (S0 4 ) 3 readily hydro—
A1 2 (S0 4 ) 98.1 (1000) lyzes to sulfuric acid
which acts as tissue
A1 2 (SO ) 18H 0 86.9 (0°) irritant
1104.0 (100°)
Fe
Fe(S0 4 ) 7H 2 0 15.65 (0°) Ferrous sulfate is used
48.6 (50°) as a nutrient and dietary
supplement food additive.
Pb
PbSO 4 (anglesite) 0.00425 (5°) Pb is cummulative poison.
0.0056 (40°) It produces brittleness of
Pb SO PbO red blood cells so they
(lanarkite) omo1yze with slight trauma
and are destroyed more
easily.
Zn
ZnSO 4 7H 2 0 96.5 (200) Zn is not a toxic element
663.6 (100°) for humans, but zinc oxide
dust is known to give
eczema in men engaged in
packing this compound.
Ba
BaSO 4 0.000222 (18°) BaSO 4 is non—toxic. So].-
0.000336 (50°) uble impurities can lead
0.00413 (100°) to toxic reactions. One
report describes a fatal
BaS 2 O 4H 0 case of poisoning due to
8 BaO, with severe abdominal
(Barium Peroxy 52.2 (00) pains, vomiting, dyspnoea,
disulfate) decomposes in rapid pulse, paralysis of
hot water arm and leg.
Cr
CrSO . 7H 2 0 12.35 (0°)
120.0 (20°)
Ca
— CaSO 4 0.209 (30°)
0.1619 (100°)
CaSO 4 2H 2 0 0.241 (?0)
0.222 (100°)
99
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Table 20. (Continued)
MPiJOR EL 4ENTS IN SOLUBILITY OF SULFATES COMMENTS ON
ACID SLUDGE IN WATER (GRAM/lOOmi ( 0 C) ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
Na
2 SO 4 (anhydrous) 4.76 (00) Toxic effects are
42.7 (1000) unknown
Na 2 SO • 10H 2 0 11.0 (00)
(Glauber’s Salt)92.7 (300)
Na 504 20 19.5 (0°)
2 44.0 (200)
)4g 50 26.0 (0°) Used as a nutrient and/or
73.8 (100°) dietary supplement food
14g 50 4 7R 2 0 71.0 (20 ) additive.
91.0 (40°)
MgS0 4 H 2 O 68.4 (100°) Inhalation of fumes of
sublimed MgO may cause
metal fume fever. Par-
ticles of Mg metal or
alloy which perforate
the skin or gain entry
through cuts or scratches
may produce severe local
lesion.
100
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Table 20. (Continued)
ELEMENTS IN ACID
SLUDGE PRESENT IN
10 TO SO PPM CONCP 1
SOLUBILITY OF SULFATES
IN WATER (GRAM/lOOml(CC)
COMMENTS ON
ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
Ag 2 SO 4
(silver sulfate)
0.57 (00)
1.41 (1000)
Silver sulfate decomposes
on heating emitting
highly toxic fumes of
oxides of sulfur.
Ni
NiSO 4
(Nickel sulfate)
29.3 (0 )
83.7 (100°)
Nickel sulfate is used
as food additive
NiSO 4 7H 2 0
NiSO 4 6H 2 O
75.6 (15.5 )
475.8 (100°)
62.52 (0°)
340.7 (100°)
Nickel and most salts
are not considered to
cause systemic poisoning.
Ingestion of large do es
of nickel compounds (1 to
3 mg/kg of wt) has been
shown to cause intestinal
disorders, convulsions.
33 (25°)
very soluble in
cold water. Decom-
poses in hot water.
As 2 S 2
(Arsenic Disulfide) insoluble
As 2 S 5
(Arsenic pentasulfide) 0.000136 (0°)
Mo
Molybdenum Compounds
Some tim salts are ir-
ritants or can liberate
toxic fumes on decompo-
sition. Alkyl tin compds.
are highly toxic and
produce skin rashes
Arsenic compounds used
as insecticides Arsenic
poisoning can be acute
or chronic.
Molybdenum compounds are
somewhat toxic but in
spite of their considerable
use, poisoning has yet
to be reported.
Mn
MnSO 4
Mn 2 (S0 4 )
MnSO 4 2H 2 0
MnSO 7H 2 0
MnSO 4 6H 2 0
MnSO 4 5H 2 0
MnSO 4 4H 2 0
MnSO 4 3H 2 0
52.0 (5 )
70.0 (70 )
Decomposes in hot
water, verj soluble
in cold water.
85.27 (35°)
106.8 (55°)
172.0
118.0 (13°)
147.4
124 (0°)
142 (540)
105.3 (0°)
111.2 (540)
74.22 (5°)
99.31 (57 )
Manganese sulfate is used
as a nutrient and food
additive. Does not
pose any environnental
hazard.
Sn
SnSO 4
Sn C 504) 2. 2H 2 0
101
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Table 20. (Continued)
ELDIENTS IN ACID
SLUDGE PRESENT IN SOLUBILITY OF SULFATES COMMENTS ON
10 TO 50 PPM CO N. IN WATER (GRAM 1 OOrnl ( °C) ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS
V
VS0 4 7H 2 0 Decomposes in air;
no so1ubi1it r data
reported.
Vanadyl sulfate Very soluble in
(minasragrite) cold water.
V 2 0 4 ( 50 3 ) 3 .16H 2 0 Decomposes in hot
water.
102
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Table 20. (Continued)
OTHER ELEMENTS PRESENT
IN ACID SLUDGE IN LESS
THAN 10 PPM
SOLUBILITY OF SULFATES COMMENTS ON
IN WATER (GRAM/lOOml(°c) ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD
Ti
Ti 2 (S0 4 )
(Titanous Sulfate)
TiOSO 4
(Titanium basic
sulfate)
Insoluble in water
Decomposes in water
Titanium compounds are
considered to be physio-
logically inert.
Cd
CdSO 4
(Cadmium Sulfate)
3CdSO 4 8H 2 O
(usual commercial
form)
75.5 (00)
60.8 (100°)
114.2 (0°)
127.6 (60°)
Inhalation of fumes or
dusts of cadmium affects
respiratory tract and
kidneys. High concentra-
tion may result in edema
and death
Co
Co (SO 4 )
(Cobalt Sulfate)
Co(S0 4 ) 7H 2 0
(bibeorite)
Co(S0 4 ) 3 18H 2 0)
Be
BeSO 4 • 4H 2 0
42.5 (25°)
100.0 (100°)
Toxicity of cobalt by
mouth is low. It produces
dernatitis and h(per—
sensitivity of skin.
Sr
SrSO 4
(Strontium Sulfate,
celestite)
0.0113 (0°)
0.0114 (32°)
Strontium exhibits low
order of toxicity
25.6
36.2
83.0
33.0
(0°)
(20°)
(100°)
(20°)
Soluble in water,
but decomposes
103
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dual naphthenic acids and polyaromatic oils, and rain run-
off waters containing 30-100 ppm oil, dictate against in-
discriminate use of soil cultivation for disposal of even
neutralized sludge. Field tests are underway on oil and
machine coolant waste disposal into soil by Union Carbide
and Stanford Research Institute. b2 Other companies are
known to be using soil cultivation techniques, but technical
data is not available.
German work reportedly shows that acid sludge carefully
disposed of does not present serious environmental problems. 2 °
On the other hand, one poorly designed landfill (dump) in
the U. S. later experienced “acid oozing” when a foundation
was laid on the completed fillJ’ 3
The acidity, combustible content, metal content, and
complex organic content make it imperative that acid sludge
not be indiscriminately disposed of. It is a prime candi-
date for disposal in a regional hazardous waste disposal
center as suggested by EPA, although properly designed and
operated landfills can accept it with caution. Solidif i-
cation rocesses, now practiced on a number of hazardous
wastes, ‘ provides a possible improvement over untreated
disposal, but it is expensive. These are believed to be
based on exotherrnic reactions, such as acid neutralization,
driving off water and forming low solubility salts.
Combustion or incineration, even after neutralization,
as is done in Europe, is undesirable due to the major
amounts of sulfur oxides and very fine metal containing
particulates which would be emitted.
Ocean disposal, now generally prohibited in all but the
most extreme cases, would probably not be permitted, al-
though existing data is certainly not conclusive. A study
of ocean disposal done for EPA considered industrial wastes
such as spent sulfuric acid, chlorinated hydrocarbons, drill
cuttings and drilling muds, and waste oils. 65 Although some
negative data was found, the authors note that ‘ this minute
body of information is totally disproportionate with both
the amounts of wastes handled and the potential damage that
these wastes can do.”
As for other methods of acid sludge disposal, deep wells
may be suitable in certain instances, but expensive and
difficult to prove as environmentally sound. Municipal
wastewater treatment plants would most likely not accept
this waste without major pretreatment, e.g. dilution with
104
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large quantities of water, neutralization, and oil re-
moval.
Acid sludge from one re—refiner is being neutralized
with limestone flyash from a steel mill ki1n. Acid sludge
from another re—refiner is believed to be undergoing similar
treatment. In Europe, acid sludge is often mixed with spent
clay and/or caustic for neutralization. Neutralization does
appear to be desirable, but the cost is significant and
care must be taken because of heat release. Some acid sludge
is being used in asphalt roofing.
Spent Clay
Spent clay does not appear to present any significant
disposal problem. As an absorbent, the clay should retain
the contaminants quite well. One would expect the oil to
be gradually consumed by bacteria in the soil when clay is
disposed of in landfills. Only about 14,000 tons per year
of clay are disposed of by re—refiners, though industrial
disposal of spent clay used in oil reclaiming may be larger
than this figure.
Other Solid and Semi—Solid Wastes
Most other solid and semi—solid wastes resulting from
waste oil processing is disposed of on land. Perhaps the
most important of these are the oily flocs and sludges
which result from wastewater treatment. Others include tank
cleaning residues, caustic sludges, filter and centrifuge
solids, etc.
The uncertainties of environmental effects due to land--
fill has already been discussed. The other major approach
to disposal of oil—containing solids and semi—solids is
incineration. For pumpable wastes, this is accomplished
with special thermal incinerators, empty refractory chambers
equipped with waste liquid and auxiliary burners; by com-
bustion in existing steam boiler furnaces; or in the case
of offshore well tests, huge open air atomized burners.b 6
For primarily solid material, incineration is accomplished
in rotary kilns and conventional solid waste incinerators,
often mixed with other solid wastes. Fluidized bed in-
cinerators are now being used for refinery wastes, including
API separator sludge, air flotation skimming, spent caustic
and other liquid wastes, 67 and could also be applied to
other oily waste disposal problems.
105
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Incineration has several major disadvantages. The
first is that fuel value is lost for high heating value
wastes, unless expensive heat recovery facilities are
included. For low solids concentrations, auxiliary fuel
must be added to support combustion. Finally, incineration
of wastes high in ash invariably requires expensive air
pollution control equipment to meet present day standards.
The soil cultivation approach to waste disposal has
already been discussed. Biological degradation of waste
oil slud es has also been demonstrated in a laboratory
reactor. 8
Distillation and Extraction Bottoms
Distillation or extraction bottoms contain from about
5—30% ash, more than one—half of which may be lead com-
pounds when running automotive drain oil. At least two
plants in the U. S. now use such fractions for asphalt
blending; one plant in Europe uses a similar material as a
fuel, but heat exchanger tube fouling and presumably high
particulate air emissions result. 2 ° Lagoons have also been
used for disposal, but these suffer from the difficulties
previously discussed.
Distillation or extraction bottoms provide an excellent
possibility as a fuel source in secondary lead smelting
reverberatory furnaces which are equipped with fine dust
collection equipment. Test burning in such a furnace is
planned in the near future under an EPA grant to NL Indus-
tries. The geography of such a scheme appears to be good,
with many furnaces located across the country (to reprocess
lead from batteries and other scrap). Both fuel and lead
values are expected to be recovered.
Wastewaters
Distillation condenser water and other waste oil pro-
cessing wastewaters may contain phenols. Wastewater char-
acterization data obtained by the contractor, including
phenol analyses, were provided earlier in this section.
Additional data is being obtained by NORCO as part of an
EPA project. Use of surface condensers should be con-
sidered to minimize the water volume. Phenols can be re-
moved by oxidation, including bio-oxidation 4 adsorption,
or extraction. Water that is discharged directly to rivers
and other streams results in environmental problems similar
to that from any petroleum refining operation, as discussed
in EPA’s preliminary report to Congress. 43
106
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In the re-refining facilities visited, only a few aHow-
ed oiiy rain water to run off to streams. Runoff was treated
with process water by separators. It was reported that most
re—refiners were able to meet local regulations for dis-
charge to municipal sewers, but it is doubtful whether any
could meet new Federal guidelines for discharge to surface
waters.
Water discharged to municipal sewage plants normally
must contain less than 100 ppm oil. A laboratory study has
shown that for conventional plant operations, the influent
to an activated sludge system should contain less than 75
ppm hexane extractables, and preferably less than 50 ppm,
because of adverse effects on sludge settling properties.
The oily materials introduced, including crankcase waste
oil, were absorbed a]..most immediately onto the biological
floc. In general, shock loads up to 5% of the sludge weight
under aeration was acceptable, while a 10% load caused
significant upset in the system.
Air Emissions
Loss of volatiles and vapors is usually reduced by
closing tanks, applying a slight vacuum to equipment, vent-
ing to furnaces, and in severe situations, installation of
scrubbers, absorbers, or other suitable air pollution con—
trol systems.
Burning of lead or other metal containing wastes creates
potential air pollution problems (in the form of fine par-
ticulates 29 ), and should not be done indiscriminately. Even
though air quality standards for lead have not been promul-
gated, the uncertainty and controversy surrounding the issue
indicates that unnecessary emissions should be at least dis-
couraged or controlled; particularly since lead recovery
and burning in lead furnaces seem feasible. Numerous re-
ferences on this subject are available.’° 78
OVERALL ASSESSMENT AND FUTURE CONSIDERATIONS
Acid sludge disposal is the most serious of the re-
refining waste disposal problems. Although acid sludge
presents serious handling problems, these can be overcome
with care. However, due to the contents of lead and other
metals, combustibles, and oil, disposal in lagoons, pits,
or by any indiscriminate means, poses serious hazards.
Mixing with refuse and/or neutralization and spreading in
well designed and operated landfills experienced in re-
107
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ceiving hazardous wastes seems reasonable, at least as a
short term solution.
Loss of lead to the land in the quantities now en-
countered appears to pose no major environmental threat, but
obviously is not desirable from the point of view of re-
source conservation, since U. S. lead supplies are limited.
Even though lead content of automotive drain oils will de-
crease as gasoline lead limitations take effect, it would
be very desirable, as soon as possible, to eliminate the
acid treating step which generates acid sludge.
Disposal of spent clay to a well designed landfill does
not appear to be a serious problem, although additional data
on spent clay composition, including the possible presence
of carcinogens, and on the rate of oil degradation is very
desirable. Other known waste products from re—refining and
waste oil processing are also not considered to be serious
threats to the environment.
Undesirable air and water emissions from re—refining
operations have been reduced considerably in recent years.
Additional controls as necessary can be instituted if ad-
equate financing and good management and engineering support
are available.
Oily flocs and sludges from wastewater treatment in
such industries as petroleum, petrochemicals, iron and steel,
metal fabrication, pulp and paper, foods, and others, are a
serious problem, at least in terms of volume and poorly under-
stood environmental effects. There is a need for consider-
able investigation in this area.
On the whole, the environmental effect of waste products
and residues from waste oil processing appears to be much
less of a problem than would exist from waste oils if no
reclaiming were practiced. The reclaiming business should be
encouraged to insure that sufficient capacity is available
to receive and adequately process waste oils for secondary
use, and aided in overcoming the waste disposal problems
which do exist.
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SECTION IX
WASTE OIL SURVEYS
Three separate surveys were conducted with varying
purposes. In the first, a general survey of the Pittsburgh
area was designed to test survey methodology and to obtain
preliminary waste oil generation data from a major metro-
politan area. As will be shown, the test of methodology
showed that such surveys are not accurate. Therefore, the
national survey which had been contemplated was abandoned
in favor of a survey of waste oil collectors and processors.
The third survey was designed primarily to obtain
technical information from leading industrial companies on
their waste oil practices.
PITTSBURGH AREA
The survey portion of this study had two distinct,
although overlapping objectives. The first was to consider
the recycling of waste oil in one major metropolitan area.
We were interested in both the current state of waste oil
recycling, and in trends with implications for the future.
The results, wherever possible, were to be quantitative in
nature. Ideally, they would be projectable to the entire
metropolitan area studied.
The second purpose was to use the sample area as a
pilot study for a potential nationwide project. Here the
emphasis was on developing understanding and testing
techniques.
Some of the results, and in particular, some key
facts for service stations are projectable. Some
results are less quantitative, since they were based
on openly—structured interviews, and the respondents
themselves did not represent a random sample. This
approach was deemed necessary to get a better understand-
ing of the nature and relative magnitudes of the various
sources of waste oil.
109
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Area Studied
In accordance with the project requirements, it was
necessary to choose one specific metropolitan area for
study. The major factors in choosing the specific area are
primarily negative. The area chosen had to be:
a) not so large as to be unmanageable within
the project budget constraints (e.g. New
York or Chicago).
b) not so small as to not have a representative
cross-section of oil users.
C) not a one-industry town (e.g. Detroit or
Akron).
d) not a part of a larger, contiguous megalopolis
(e.g. Newark).
In addition it was desirable for the area to have both a
number of major industrial plants and a number of large
corporate headquarters. Among the several areas meeting
these requirements, Pittsburgh was chosen more or less
randomly.
General Discussion
An important consideration in conducting a waste oil
survey is to distinguish between quantities of oil used ,
waste oil generated internally, recycled internally, gene-
rated externally , and available for recycle externally . The
difference etween thiie five terms are affected by con-
sumption at the point of use, internal recycle facilities,
spills, and questions of quality degradation at every step.
An example of significant losses occurs in pipelines
which generally have spill tanks at pumping stations. The
oil contained in these spill tanks is not (in the Pittsburgh
area at least) directly reinserted into the pipeline flow,
making this substantial amount of oil available for re-
cycling. Detecting the potential significance of pipeline
spillage is one of the results of the use of open—ended
interviews.
Depending on usage and user, the proportion of re-
coverable oil varies from none at all up to 85% or 90%. The
lowest proportions are for process oil, and oil added to
110
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gasoline for lubrication (primarily vehicular - usually two
cycle engines). For other industrial uses the main factor
in the proportion of recoverable oil appears to be the
degree to which the oil must be contaminated before it is
unsuitable for further use. For instance, oil used for some
lubrication purposes is often almost totally used up since
even fairly contaminated oil remains usable, with new oil
being added on a continuing basis. Oil used for electrical
insulation 1 on the other hand, often loses its quality at
relatively low contamination levels and can be recovered
and recycled either internally or externally.
On the whole, oil used in vehicular and especially
automotive crankcases is recoverable in high proportions.
Non—recoverable crankcase oil is of two types: oil burnt
up by the engine and oil left in the oil filter. This
latter can be of considerable significance. If the oil
filter is changed every other oil change, about 8-10% of
automotive lube oils could be discarded with filters.
As noted before, waste oil generated by a particular
process (i.e., generated internally ) is not the same as
waste oil available for recycling externally . Whether
particular sources of waste oil will produce oil available
for recycling outside the generating source depends upon
several factors, the most important being the following:
How much waste oil is produced at a particular
point. Paradoxically, the greater the quantity
of waste oil produced, the less likely it is
that the oil is available for external recycling.
This is because large quantities at a single
place make it economic for the organization
generating the oil to find uses for it themselves
(e.g. burning).
How much heat or power generation is done by
the waste oil generating organization. An
organization buying substantial amounts of
heating oil will have obvious reasons and
potentialities for using its own waste oil as
fuel.
A corollary is the necessity to distinguish the quality of
waste oil generated. Clean oil overflowed into a spill
tank is obviously not in the same condition as oil taken
from a truck engine after 6,000 miles. While general state-
ments are difficult, many industrial uses seem to be at the
111
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two extremes. For instance, most insulation and hydraulic
uses, and some lubrication uses, lead to a quality of oil
equivalent to simple spillage as a source of waste, while
some process uses such as rubber compounding change the
basic nature of the oil. There is, or course, significant
lubrication use,which is similar to vehicle use in the poor
quality of the waste oil that is produced.
Finally, we found that the waste oil recovery process
seems to be going through a period of considerable upheaval.
Underlying the changes are the major recent, current,and
presumably near—term future changes in the economics of
the problem. One example is that the value of oil as a
fuel has produced substantial changes in the use of oil
directly at the point of collection by industrial users.
A major utility, for example, has just recently switched to
burning its used electrical insulation oil in its steam
generators, and will shortly do the same with crankcase oil
collected from its fleet of almost 1,000 vehicles. Similar-
ly, as oil becomes more valuable (and continues in short
supply), the economics of collection clearly change for the
recycler. On the other side, the growing environmental
pressure leads to greater concern for recycling wastes of
all types.
Summary
Overall, we found that in the Pittsburgh area most
(although not all) recoverable waste oil is being recovered;
that the recovery process, especially for industrial wastes,
is more and more becoming a process carried out internally
for a particular organization; and that the availability of
waste oil for recycling must be understood in terms of not
only how much, but what types, where and how. The elabo’-
ration of these findings for each source of waste oil is
presented in Appendix C.
The work performed and the results obtained in the
survey can be summarized as follows.
General — All waste oil is not available for external re-
cycling. Aside from those purposes which use up all or most
of the oil, substantial amounts of waste oil are, especially
in industry, internally recycled or used at the source for
fuel, road oil, etc. The proportion of waste oil being in—
ternally recycled or reused in industry is rising, and the
oil shortage should accelerate this rise.
112
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The most significant sources of external recycled waste
oil in the Pittsburgh area are automotive crankcase oil and
oil spilled in pipeline transportation.
Most waste oil in the Pittsburgh area which is potenti-
ally recyclable appears to be presently recycled, but for
uses other than lube oils, including fuel use. This is
partly a result of the fact that there are no re-refiners
(producing lube oils) within 230 miles of Pittsburgh.
Private Vehicles — A random sample survey of 100 service
station owners and/or managers was carried out in the
Pittsburgh area. A total of 83 interviews was successfully
completed.
The service station respondents turned out to be un-
able to give consistent information on the amount of waste
oil they collect from automotive crankcases. Asked about
waste oil in three ways (oil sold for changes, number of
changes, and total collected) they provided substantially
differing information.
On an average basis we estimate that there is about
1,100 gallons of waste oil generated per service station
per year in the Pittsburgh area.
New car dealers and maintenance centers appear to
generate roughly half as much waste oil as do service
stations.
We estimate that in Pittsburgh about 2.3 million gallons
± 33% is the total waste oil generated from privately owned
automobiles per year.
Other Sources — There are five main categories of organi-
zationally owned vehicles: rental fleets, for-hire trucking,
fleets owned for direct organizational use, automotive
public transportation, and non—automotive vehicles.
Overall we estimate organizationally owned vehicles
generate about half as much available—for-external-recycling
waste oil as do private vehicles, or about 1.4 million
gallons per year.
There are five main classes of non—vehicular oil usage.
Ranked in order of recoverable waste oil in Pittsburgh,
these are: oil spilled and contaminated in transit (pipe-
lines), insulation oil, process uses, and lubrication.
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Based on population ratio from national figures, one
would estimate about 10 million gallons of industrial oil
sold in the Pittsburgh area per year. Because of the in-
dustrial nature of the area this could be as high as 15
million gallons per year. About one million gallons appears
to be available for recycling at locations other than those
of the original users.
Collector Survey — Interviews were carried out with six
waste oil collectors in the Pittsburgh area. Of these,
three turned out to be collectors who merely deliver the
waste oil to the processing plant of the one large operation.
From interviews with collectors we estimate 1.973 col-
lection by Pittsburgh-based firms at about 11 million
gallons. This breaks down as
About 4.5 to 5.5 million gallons from the Pitts-
burgh area
About 3.0 to 3.5 million gallons of pipeline
spillage from a wide area around Pittsburgh
About 3.0 to 3.5 million gallons from other
than pipeline spillage from areas outside Pitts-
burgh (e.g. West Virginia, Ohio).
Overall Results — The total crankcase waste oil is estimated
at about 2.7to 4.8 million gallons with a best estimate of
about 3.7 million gallons. About one million gallons per
year of industrial waste oil is estimated to be available
for recycling.
About 9 million gallons of automotive oil are estimated
to be sold in the Pittsburgh area per year. About 5 million
gallons should be available for recycling based on the
estimates made in Section X. This compares with the esti-
mate of about 3.7 million from the survey.
A National Study
It was the original expectation of the Request for Pro-
posal which initiated this study that one result would be a
proposal for a comprehensive national study of the potential
for oil recycling. As a result of the data collection pro-
blems discussed above, especially in the service station
area, we have come to the conclusion that a national study
would be of limited value, if any, unless accompanied by a
continual record—keeping system for a large national sample.
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This approach seems impractical because of cost, which
probably would exceed the value of more accurate survey
results.
Thus, only a limited version of a national study was
recommended, concentrating on a study of collectors and
processors to obtain accurate current data.
For completeness, the sample which would be proposed
in a national study, if there were no question of data
collection problems, appears as Table 2 i.
WASTE OIL COLLECTORS AND PROCESSORS
The overall goal of this survey was to provide data
on the waste oil industry in the U. S. More specifically,
the study has attempted to: (1) assess industry size;
(2) determine industry practices; (3) analyze current
and future industry trends; and (4)provide national
estimates. Some of the results are presented below. Details
are provided in Appendix D.
Method
This study employed telephone interviews with respon-
sible executives in waste oil collector and collector/pro-
cessor firms as the basic data gathering approach. One
hundred such firms were interviewed in April of 1974.
Response Analysis,the subcontractor, initially deve-
loped a listing of waste oil firms from a variety of
sources: telephone directory yellow pages, lists of licensed
firms in states where such firms must be registered, and
from information supplied by several governmental agencies
and industry associations.
The Response Analysis national probability sample, with
103 primary sampling units throughout the United States,
was the basis for selecting particular waste oil firms.
This sampling method provides an accurate basis for making
national estimates, within certain statistical limitations.
Data on waste oil firms in this study was weighted up to
provide national estimates of the industry for several key
items.
Characteristics of the Waste Oil Industry
Nationwide, fewer than 500 firms appear to operate in
the waste oil industry. Of these, approximately 60% are
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Table 21. NATIONAL SAMPLE STRUCTURE
Number of
Category Sample Basis Interviews Remarks
SERVICE STATIONS
Regular National probability 750
Highway stations National probability 100
Truck stops National probability 100
OTHER PERSONAL AUTO
SERVICING
New Car National probability 100
Auto repair National probability 100
Department/discount National probability 100
FLEET AUTOMOBILES
Government National probability 100
Public transportation National probability 100 ½ taxis;½ other
Utilities (cars,trucks) National probability 50
Distribution firms— ½ truckers;
light trucks National probability 100 ½ commercial
Auto rental National probability 100
Industrial Fortume 1250 100 Some stratifica-
by broad
Trucking firms- industry type
heavy trucks National probability 100
NON-AUTOMOTIVE USES
Airlines Fortume 1250 25 Interviews at
maintenance
headquarters
Pipelines Standard & Poor 25
Airports for general
aviation National probability 25
General industrial Standard & Poor 200 Substantial
Railroads Fortume 1250 25 stratification
by industry type
SALES ONLY (Telephone
Interviews) National probability 600 Total of 600,
including those
done in category
under department!
discount to
establish
servicing areas
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collectors and 40% are collector/processors.
The waste oil industry is highly fragmented, ephemeral,
and not easily characterized in terms of the “average”
operator or firm. During the past year many new firms were
started, although many will probably go out of business
quickly, or move operations to another city or state. Older
firms may also change hands, particularly in the current
highly competitive situation. Many older firms also appear
to change their place of business and market areas at fre-
quent intervals. Many firms, both old and new, seem to run
their businesses in a highly informal and flexible manner,
often operating out of temporary facilities with no formal
address or phone number. Under these circumstances, any
form of regulation is difficult.
Collectors tend to search for waste oil sources on an
informal basis without contracts or a specified callback
system. Collector/processors, however, do sometimes collect
under contractual agreement. There is also evidence to
suggest that much of the waste oil initially collected is
immediately disposed of. This alternative may still be more
economical than transporting the waste oil to a processing
plant.
Some waste oil executives perceive little or no need
for air and water pollution control measures in their in-
dustry. Many spokesmen seem defensive when asked whether
or not their type of industry produces any form of pollution.
The majority of companies dispose of processing wastes in
landfills.
Trends in the Waste Oil Industry
Future industry growth will probably be experienced by
the collector/processors at the expense of the collectors.
At present, more collector/processors say they are ex-
periencing growth than collectors. (When asked to predict
future trends in the industry, many more collector/processors
were optimistic about future growth than were collectors.)
The waste oil industry seems to be at the mercy of many
external factors, affecting business in both the short and
long run. Recent shortages in petroleum have been a mixed
blessing. While more oil is needed for the domestic market
(including reprocessed waste oil) less oil is available be-
cause people are driving less and no longer require frequent
oil changes. Automobile and truck manufacturers have also
117
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extended the recommended intervals between oil changes, thus
reducing available waste oil even further. All of these
factors contribute to operation below the industry’s capa-
city.
Concern over environmental problems, government regu-
lation, licensing, and inspection play both a direct and
indirect role in determining practices in the waste oil
industry, including “acceptable” methods for handling waste
materials. All of these factors have a negative effect on
the availability of capital for investing in n.ew state-of-
the—art equipment for processing waste oils.
Background Impressions
Waste oil firms,in general, keep either poor records or
no records. Some are even reluctant to attempt estimates.
This is more true of collectors-—collector/processors
operate larger, more formalized businesses and tend to have
more complete records.
Collectors and collector/processors are not cooperative
respondents. Many refused to grant an interview, and many
of those who did refused to answer many of the questions.
To date, the waste oil industry has been relatively
unknown, unrecognized, and unmeasured. In general, there
appears to be little information from any source (including
state and federal agencies) on firms in the ,aste oil in-
dustry. While this report discusses most phases of the
industry, many questions about further aspects of waste
oil collection and processing are also raised.
Data Summary
Some of the more important results of the survey are
presented in Tables 2224. A summary of national estimates
is provided in Table 25.
It is apparent from Table 22 that the industry is
dominated by companies who do processing. However, because
of the large quantity of oil reported collected, but not
accounted for (“Other or Not Reported”), even these
companies may be bypassing processing and transferring oil
directly from collection to fuel, road oil, dust control,
and perhaps landfill or other questionable practices.
Table 23 provides some insight into the type of pro-
cesses used. It is apparent from these figures that most
118
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Table 22 . WASTE OIL COLLECTION AND USE
Collector/
Collectors Processors
No. Gal/Month No. Gal/Month
Collection
Total Waste Oil 61 3,531,000 39* 19,114,000
Collected
Collected From Other 8 32,000 16 3,850,000
Collectors
Net Collected 3,499,000 15,264,000
Collected From
Service Stations
and New Car Dealers 2,030,000 (58%) 2,745,000 (18%)
Uses
Road Oil or Dust 15 57,000 8 43,000
Control
Fuel 12 75,000 14 300,000
To Processing l4 117,000 39 3,775,000
Other or Not 7 3,282,000 5 14,996,000
Reported 3,531,000 19,114,000
* Includes 8 processors who have no collection
facilities of their own, but have a working
relationship with collectors.
÷ Includes simple settling.
119
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Table 23. TREATMENT PROCESSES USED
% of the 39
Processors
Who Use
Filtration or Centrifugation 87
Settling 56
Flash Drying or Distillation 77
Clay Treatment 46
Acid Treatment 44
Caustic, Silicate or Other 59
Chemical Treatment
Other 13
120
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plants have multi—step processes, or a choice for each oil
processed. Most separate solids and/or water by settling,
filtration, or centrifugation and probably dry also by
vaporizing water. Acid, clay and chemical treatments seem
to be common.
The amount of lube oil produced as compared to other
products, shown in Table 24, is high, but the total oil
accounted for here (51,000,000 gallons per year) is only
22% of that collected by the processors interviewed
(19,114,000 gallons per month) , again raising the question
of whether much of the collected oil is processed at all.
The subcontractor’s projection of the information ob-
tained, shown in Table 25, indicates that there are 423
collectors and processors nationwide who collected 1,640
million gallons of waste oil in 1973, and processed 706
million. These figures may be compared to estimates based
on 1970—71 sales volumes and estimated recoveries and losses,
as shown in Section X:
Millions of Gallons Per Year
Projections
from Survey
of Waste Oil Projections
Collectors & from Methods
Processors of Section X
Collection 1,640 1,502 (oil pro-
cessed +
oil to fuel
+ road
oils, etc.)
Processed 706 901 (waste oil
processors
+ re-
ref iners)
This close check for estimates made entirely independently,
by very different methods, lends confidence to their valid—
I ty.
121
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Table 24. TYPES OF OILS PRODUCED BY PROCESSORS
Gallons Produced
In 1973 (%)
Fuels 19,890,000 (39)
Lube Oils 19,890,000 (39)
Road Oil 3,570,000 (7)
Process Oil 4,080,000 (8)
Journal Box Oil 2,040,000 (4)
Asphalt Flox & Other 1,530,000 (3)
51,000,000* (100)
* Based on 21 of 39 processors who
supplied relevant data.
122
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Table :25, NATIONAL ESTIMATES
1973 Totals
Collection No. Millions of Gallons
Collectors 260
Collector!
Processors 163
423 1,640
Process jflg*
Actual Processed 163 706
Capacity 163 1,055
* Including re—refiners.
123
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SURVEY OF INDUSTRIAL FIRMS
One organization in each of fifty-seven SIC (Standard
Industrial Classification) major groups were interviewed to
investigate the purchase and use of oils, and waste oil
generation and disposal. These groups included some govern-
mental and institutional organizations, as well as industrial
companies.
Visits were made to about one-half of the organizations;
information from the remainder came via telephone and mail.
Both visit and telephone interviews were nationwide, pri-
marily with leading companies in their fields. Information
received was on the basis that the organization contacted
would not be identified.
The primary purpose of the survey was to obtain tech-
nical information on industrial practices. All interviews
were conducted by the Contractor’s technical staff who are
well versed in waste oil problems. No attempt has been
made to handle the data on a statistical basis.
The cooperation received ranged from fully cooperative
to complete non—cooperation. In the latter cases, a sub-
stitution was made for the original organization selected.
Most multi-plant companies had no centralized oil purchase
records; very few had centralized records of waste oil
generation or disposal. Therefore, in many instances infor-
mation was gathered from a single location, either typical
of the organization, or a plant using a large quantity of
oils.
Discussions in other sections of this report reflect
information gathered during this survey. The data gathered
also tended to reinforce material balance calculations shown
in Section X. A summary of the information obtained appears
as Appendix E.
Ultimate disposal of waste oils and other oily materials
meant pickup by an independent collector in most cases.
Only a few companies were aware of the destination of oil
which left the company facilities by this route.
124
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A compilation of the number of companies using various
disposal methods follows. These are based on 5G answering,
with many companies having- multiple disposal methods:
Disposal No. of % of Organizations
Method Organ! zations Answaring
Picked up by collector 38 68
Reclaimed internally or
externally for internal
use 16 29
Landfill (or dump) 15 27
Used as fuel 14 25
Significant losses to
wastewater 9 16
Discarded to trash or
refuse 8 14
Road oiling or dust control 4 7
Incineration 2 4
125
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SECTION X
QUANTIFYING U. S. WASTE OIL GENERATION
AND DISPOSAL
A waste oil material balance for the U. S. has been
attempted. Although major data gaps have been identified,
a complete balance has been made, using best estimates to
fill these gaps. The data are summarized in Table 26. De-
tails are provided in Appendix F.
Waste oil balances are basically built up from:
— sales data on oil sales in various
categories, e.g. automotive lubes,
industrial lubes, other industrial
oils, etc.
- information obtained during the Con-
tractor’s surveys, or previous
surveys, on the portion of oil sold
which becomes waste oils, or best
estimates where such data are lacking.
As already noted in Section IX, the estimate for total waste
oil generated in 1970—71, obtained as follows from Table 26:
Millions of Gallons
Disposed of to: Per Year
Waste oil processors 763
Re—Refiners 138
Road Oils, Asphalt, Etc. 243
Fuel 358
1,502
checks very closely with the estimate of the total quantity
collected, 1,640 million gallons per year (1973), obtained
from the survey of collectors and processors. The total
processed:
Millions of Gallons
Disposed of to: Per Year
Waste Oil Processors 763
Re—Refiners 138
901
126
-------
also provides a reasonable check against the survey result
of 706 million gallons per year.
127
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TABLE 26. GENERATION AND DESTINATION OF WASTE OIL (WO.) -
MILLIONS OF GALLONS PER YEAR
W.O. To W.O. To Road Oils, For To
Sale Lactor _ W.O. Processors Re-RefinerS Asphalts, etc . Fuel Environment
Automotive Lube Oils
Service Stations 270 .63 170
Garage., Auto Supply Stor•s 60 .63 38
New Car Dealers 102 .90 92
Retail Sales for Coiiviiercial Engines 90 .63 57
Auto Fleet & Other Lube Oil Users 136 .50 68
Factory Fills (Auto & Farm Equip.) 60 .90 54
Discount Stores 168 .22 37
Commercial Engine Fleets 200 .50 100
loll. 202 105 142 19 148
Industrial & Aviation Lube Oil .
Hydraulic & Circulating System Oils 325 .42 137
Metal Working Oil. 150 .70 105
Railroad Engine Oils 60 .53 32
Gas Engine Oils 62 .90 56
Aviation & Other 137 .47 64
7 T 130 16 25 111 112
Other Industrial Oils
Process Oils 310 .10 31
Electrical Oils 57 .90 51
Refrigeration Oils 10 .50 5
177 28 3 6 25 25
Lube Oils Purchased by U. 3 . 37 .50 18 4 3 .j _..!
Sub—Totals 2234 — 1115 364 127 177 159 288
Other Oil Losses and Spills, iron
Production, Refining, Transportation,
Marketing, Use - ...!!
GRAND TOTALS — 2480 763 138 243 358 978
Disposition from W.O. Proc.ssors (—763) 76 649 38
Disposition from Re-Refiners (-55) - 21 34
ULTIMATE DISPOSAL 83 319 1028 1040
* Re-Refined Products
-------
SECTION X
REFE RENCES
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E. L. Mohuridro. To Hydrotreat Waste Lube Oil.
Hydrocarbon Processing :134-136. September 1973.
2. Study of Waste Oil Disposal Practices in Massachusetts.
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Division of Water
Pollution. Contractor - Arthur D. Little, Inc. C-
70698. January 1969. 36 pages.
3. Delta Airlines Treatment Plant Handles Chemical and
Oily Wastes. Industrial Wastes. 28:27-34, September—
October 1973.
4. Industrial Oily Waste Control. American Petroleum
Institute and the American Society of Lubrication
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Oil Recovery and Reuse Program. The Maryland
Environmental Service. Contractor — Environmental
Quality Systems, Inc. Washington, D. C. EPA 670/2-
74—03. U. S. EPA. January 1974. 247 pages.
6. Royal, T. B. Reprocessed Oils. Rubber Age :45-50,
February 1973.
7. Sales of Lubricating and Industrial Oils and Greases.
Social and Economic Statistics Administration,
Bureau of the Census. Washington, D. C. MA-29C
(71)—i. U. S. Department of Commerce. 1971. 10
pages.
8. Forster, R. L.., et al. Port Collection and Separa-
tion Facilities for Oily Wastes. Contractor -
Frederic R. Harris, Inc. Washington, D. C. 2-36202.
U. S. Department of Commerce, Maritime Administration.
1973. 4 volumes.
9. Salvesen, R. H., A. Beerbower, A. R. Garabrant, M.
Lieberman. Research of Oily Wastes, Norfolk Area.
Naval Supply Systems Command. Contractor - Esso
Research and Engineering Company. GRVS 2 EAD. 72.
U. S. Navy. January 1973. 53 pages.
129
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10. Beychok, M. R. Aqueous Wastes From Petroleum and
Petrochemical Plants. London, John Wiley and Sons,
1967. 370 pages.
11. U. S. Bureau of the Census, Pocket Data Book USA 1971.
Washington, D. C., U. S. Government Printing Office,
May 1971. 352 pages.
12. Shreve, N. R. Chemical Process Industries, 3rd
edition. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1967.
887 pages.
13. The Encyclopedia of Chemistry, 3rd edition. New York,
New York, Van Nostrand Reinhold Company. 1973.
Synthetic Lubricants, pages 644-645.
14. Teknekron Report for EPA to be issued.
15. Waste Oil Recovery Practices — State-of-the-Art (1972).
Maryland Environmental Service and U. S. EPA,
Contractor Environmental Quality Systems. Washington,
D. C. December 1972. 250 pages.
16. Conversion of Crankcase Waste Oil Into Useful
Products. U. S. EPA, Contractor - National Oil
Recovery Corporation. WPCR Series 15080 DBO. March
1971. 87 pages.
17. Chambers, T. M. Crankcase Oil Refining. U. S. Patent
No. 3,173,859. March 16, 1965. 9 pages.
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Claiming. U. S. Patent No. 3,625,881. December 7,
1971. 9 pages.
19. Bonnifay, P., et al. A New Process for Reclaiming
Spent Lubricating Oils. Institut Francais du Petrole
(Presented at the National Fuels and Lubricants Mtg.
National Petroleum Refiners Association, New York
City, Sept. 14—15, 1972). 10 pages.
20. Unpublished notes from Dr. P. B. Lederman, EPA,
Edison, New Jersey.
130
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21. Villanova University, Final Progress Report, FWPCA
Grant WPD-174-01-67, unpublished.
22. Automotive Crankcase Drainings Can Yield the Base
Lubricating Oil. Chemical Engineering :51, Nay 13,
1974.
23. NORCO report to be published.
24. Putscher, R. E. Study of Re-refining Waste Disposal.
Armour Research Foundation of Illinois Institute of
Technology. Lyons, Illinois. ARF 3808-5. Associa—
tion of Petvoleum Re-Refiners. January 29, 1960.
32 pages.
25. Study of Problems of Refining Lubricating Oil Drain-
ings. Association of Petroleum Re-Refiners.
Contractor — Walter C. McCrone Associates, Inc.
Chicago, Illinois. MA1982. May 11, 1971. 17 pages.
26. Weinstein, N. J. et al. A Non-polluting Oil Re-
Refining Process. Recon Systems, Inc., Princeton,
New Jersey. (Presented at American Institute of
Chemical Engineers Worshop “Industrial Process
Design for Pollution Control.”). Chicago. (October
17—19, 1973) . 12 pages.
27. Private communication from Teknekron, Inc., Berkeley,
California.
28. Twomey, D. W. Lube Market Getting Tighter. Ilydro-
carbon Processing :201-204, November 1973.
29. Chappell, G. A. Waste Oil Processing. Division
of Water Pollution Control, Water Resources
Commission, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Con.—
tractor — Esso Research and Engineering Company.
Linden, New Jersey. 72-5. January 1973. 39 pages.
30. Freestone, F. J. Runoff of Oils from Rural Roads
Treated to Suppress Dust. Edison Water Quality
Research Laboratory. Edison, New Jersey. EPA-R2- -
054. U. S. EPA. October 1972. 29 pages.
31. 1973 Petrochemical Handbook Issue. Hydrocarbon
Processing :128, November 1973.
131
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32. Bennett, I. C., et al. Animal-Feed Protein Made
From n—Paraf fins. Chemical Engineering :45-47,
December 27, 1971.
33. Oil Pollution Removal Handbook. Park Ridge, New
Jersey, Noyes Data Corporation, 1973. p. 339-394.
34. Vaughn, S. H. and R. S. McCurdy. Wastewater Treat-
ment at Ford’s Windsor Complex. Industrial Wastes.
34:34—40, May/June 1973.
35. Gilde, L. C. Pollution Control in Food Industries.
In: Industrial. Pollution Control handbook, Lund,
H. F. New York, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1971.
p. 16—15.
36. Beychok, H. R. Wastewater Treatment, State—of—the-
Art. Hydrocarbon Processing :109-112, December
1971.
37. Racine, W. 3. Plant Designed to Protect the Environ-
ment. Hydrocarbon Processing :115-119, March 1972.
38. Thomson, S. J. Data Improves Separator Design.
Hydrocarbon Processing :81-83, October 1973.
39. Kirby, T. W. Water Conservation at a Major Befinery-
Petrochemical Complex. Water-1973, Bennett, G. F.
New York, New York, American Institute of Chemical
Engineers, 1974, P. 645—653.
40. Willenbrink, R. Wastewater Reuse and In-Plant
Treatment. Water - 1973, Bennett, G. F. New York,
New York, American Institute of Chemical Engineers,
1974. p. 671—674.
41. Seng, W. C. Recovery of Fatty Material From Edthle
Oil Refinery Effluents. U. S. EPA, Contractor -
Swift and Company. Washington, D. C. EPA-660/2-
73—015. December 1973.
42. Lewis, W. L. Petroleum Industry Challenge—Pre-
vention of Ocean Pollution. Water - 1973, Bennett,
G. F. New York, New York, American Institute of
Chemical Engineers, 1974. p. 654—666.
132
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43. Waste Oil Study - A Preliminary Report to the Congress.
U. S. EPA. Washington, D. C. 93-12. May 1973. 55
pages.
44. Manual on Disposal of Refinery Wastes, Volume VI,
Solid Wastes, 1st edition. Washington, D. C.,
American Petroleum Institute, 1963. 51 pages.
45. Methods for Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastes.
National Environmental Research Center, Analytical
Quality Control Laboratory. Cincinnati, Ohio.
16020———07/71. U. S. EPA, 1971. 312 pages.
46. Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and
Wastewater, 13th edition. Washington, D. C., APHA,
AWWA, WPCF, 1971. 874 pages.
47. EPA, Solid Waste Disposal, Proposed Guidelines for
Thermal Processing and Land Disposal of Solid Wastes,
Volume 38, Number 81, Washington, D. C., Federal
Register, April 27, 1973, p. 10544—10553.
48. Report to Congress on Hazardous Waste Disposal.
U. S. EPA. Washington, D. C. June 30, 1973. 168
pages.
49. Powell, M. D., et al. Digest of Selected Local Solid
Waste Management Ordinances. U. S. EPA, Contractor -
National Association of Counties Research Foundation.
Washington, D. C. (SW—38c). U. S. EPA. 1972. 376
pages.
50. EPA, Oil Pollution Prevention, Non-Transportation
Related On—shore and Off-shore Facilities, Volume
38, Number 237, Washington, D. C., Federal Register,
December 11, 1973, p. 34164—34170.
51. New Jersey State Departiitent of Health, Division of
Clean Air and Water, Water and Sewage Statutes,
Trenton, New Jersey, September 1969, 180 pages.
52. Private communication from the State of New Jersey,
Department of Environmental Protection, Division
of Water Resources, Trenton, New Jersey.
133
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53. Illinois Pollution Control Board, State of Illinois,
Water Pollution Regulations of Illinois, March 7,
1972, 36 pages.
54. Statuatory Authority. U. S. EPA, Washington, D. C.
December 1972.
55. EPA, Petroleum Refining Point Source Category,
Effluent Limitation Guidelines and New Source
Standards, Volume 39, Number 240, Washington, D. C.,
Federal Register, December 14, 1973, p. 34542—34558.
56. Modern Methods for Acid Sludge Disposal. Oil in
Canada :24-27, January 18, 1954.
57. Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 53rd edition.
Chemical Rubber Publishing Company, Cleveland, Ohio.
1973.
58. Sax, N. I. Dangerous Properties of Industrial
Materials, Third edition. New York, Reinhold. 1968.
59. Metals from Industrial Waste May Limit Fertilizer
Use of Sewage Sludge. Chemical Week :36, April 17,
1974.
60. Ocean Disposal Practices and Effects. (A Report from
the Presidentts Water Pollution Control Advisory
Board to the U. S. EPA Meeting September 26-29,
1972) 20 pages.
61. Kincannon, C. B. Oily Waste Disposal by Soil
Cultivation Process. U. S. EPA. Washington, D. C.
EPA—R2-72-11O. December 1972. 115 pages.
62. Soil Microorganisms Offer Pollution Solutions.
Chemical Engineering :26, November 26, 1973.
63. Private communication.
64. Ford Calls in the Sludge Experts (Reprint). Business
Week. June 16, 1973.
65. Smith, D. D. and R. P. Brown. Ocean Disposal of
Barge-Delivered Liquid and Solid Wastes from U. S.
Coastal Cities. Solid Waste Management Office,
Contractor - Applied Oceanography Division,
Dillingham Corporation. SW—19c. U. S. EPA. 1971.
119 pages.
134
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66. Burning Waste Oil. Compressed Air Magazine :14-
16, November 1973.
67. Flood, G. C. and K. L. Kunci. Over 370 tpd of Oily
Sludge Converted Into Clean Air and Innocuous Land-
fill. Chemical Processing. September 1973.
68. Fragala, R. et al. Microbiological Treatment of
Waste Oil Sludge. Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Division of Water Pollution Control, Contractor -
Tyco Laboratories. Washington, D. C. C-943. June
3, 1970. 40 pages.
69. Barnhart, E. L. The Impact of Oily Materials on
Activated Sludge Systems. American Petroleum
Institute. Contractor - Hydroscience, Inc.
Washington, D. C. 12050 DSH 03/71. March 1971.
110 pages.
70. Lead and Air Pollution: A Bibliography With Abstracts.
U. S. EPA, Office of Air Quality Planning and
Standards. North Carolina. EPA-450/l-74-001.
January 1974. 431 pages.
71. Haley, T. J. A Review of the Toxicology of Lead.
Air Quality Monograph, American Petroleum Institute.
Washington, D. C. 69-7.
72. Smith, R. G. Air Quality Standards for Lead. Air
Quality Monograph, American Petroleum Institute.
Washington, D. C. 69-11.
73. Schroeder, H. A. Barium. Air Quality Monograph,
American Petroleum Institute. Washington, D. C.
70—12.
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70—13.
75. Schroeder, H. A. Nickel. Air Quality Monograph,
American Petroleum Institute. Washington, D. C.
70—14.
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American Petroleum Institute. Washington, D. C.
70—15.
135
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77. Schroeder, H. A. Cadium, Zinc and Mercury. Air
Quality Monograph, American Petroleum Institute.
Washington, D. C. 70-16.
78. Schroeder, H. A. Manganese. Air Quality Monograph,
American Petroleum Institute. Washington, D. C.
70—17.
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81. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Depart-
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Standards; National Concensus Standards and Established
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Chemical Safety Data Sheet SD—9, Caustic Soda
Chemical Safety Data Sheet SD-20, Sulfuric Acid
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Chemical Safety Data Sheet SD-64, Lead Oxides
84. Christensen, H. E. (Editor). The Toxic Substances
List. 1972 Edition. National Institute for
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136
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88. Oil Spill Technology Takes Big Step Forward.
Chemical and Engineering News. April 1973.
137
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SECTION XI
APPENDICES
138
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APPENDIX A
WASTE OIL RE-REFINERS AND PROCESSORS
ARKAN SAS
Henley Oil Compa
P.O. Box 141
Norphiet, Arkansas 71759
Telephone:
501—546—2582
Contact: Charles W. Henley
Visit Date: None Planned
CALIFORNIA
X Bayside Oil Corporation
977 Bransten Road
San Carlos, Calif. 94070
Telephone: 415—593—2944
Contact: A. Ray Banks
Visit Date: 7/18/73
Visit By: N.J. Weinstein
(with Teknekron)
X Leach Oil Company, Inc .
625 East Compton Blvd.
Compton, Calif. 90220
Telephone: 213—323—0116
Contact: George Leach
Visit Date: 7/20/73
Visit By: N.J. Weinstein
(with Teknekron)
C.S. McAuley, Inc .
P.O. Box 219
Downey, California 90241
Telephone : 213—869—1179
Contact: C.S. McAuley
Visit Date: 7/20/73
Visit By: N.J. Weinstein
(with Teknekron)
X Motor Guard Lubricants Co .
4334 East Washington Blvd.
Los Angeles, Calif. 90023
Telephone: 213—268—6877
Contact: H.B. Millard
Visit Date: 7/19/73
Visit By: N.J. Weinstein
(with Teknekron)
Fabian Oil Refining Co .
4200 Alameda Avenue
Oakland, Calif. 94601
Telephone: 415—532—5051
Contact: Bryan Fabian
Visit Date: 7/18/73
Visit By: N.J. Weinstein
(with Teknekron)
X Talley Bros. Inc .
2007 Laura Avenue
Huntington Park, Calif.9e255
Telephone: 213—587—1217
Contact: A.W. Talley
Visit Date: 7/23/73
Visit By: N.J. Weinstein
(with Teknekron)
Nelco. Oil Refining Company
1211 McKinley Avenue
National City, Calif. 92050
Telephone: 714—474—7511
Contact: Otis F. Humphrey
Visit Date: 7/23/73
Visit By: N.J. Weinstein
(with Teknekron)
139
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COLORADO
GEORGIA
X Williams Refining Company
5901 North Federal St.
Denver, Colorade 80221
Telephone: 303—433—2497
Contact: Lloyd Cunningham
Visit Date: None planned
FLORIDA
X Davis Oil Company
Box 1303, 1100 Orange Ave.
Tallahassee, Fla. 32302
Telephone: 904—576—3116
Contact: George Davis
Visit Date: 8/1/73
Visited By: A.T. Goding
Peak Oil Company
Route 3, Box 24
Tampa, Floriad 33619
Telephone: 813—626—9116
Contact: John Schroter
Visit Date: 7/31/73
Visited By. A.T. Goding
Petroleum Products Co .
Box 336f South Park Road
Pembroke Park
Hallendale, Florida 33009
Telephone: 305—989—4000
Contact: Sol Blair
Visit Date: 7/31/73
Visited By: A.T. Goding
Seaboard Oil Industries
of Florida, Inc .
Box 6336
Jacksonville, Florida
Telephone: 904—389—8845
Contact: Byron Cohen
Visit Date: None planned to
this plant; see
Georgia plant
Seaboard Industries
Box 47333
5810 New Peachtree Road
Doraville, Georgia 30040
Telephone: 404—458—2241
Contact: Byron Cohen
Visit Date: 8/2/73
Visited By: A.T. Goding
ILLINOIS
X Motor Oils Refining Co .
7601 West 47th Street
Lyons, Illinois 60534
Telephone: 312—242—2306
Contact: Benton Williams
R.E. Poindexter
Visit Date: 8/13/73
Visited By: N.J. Weinstein
(with Teknekron)
INDIANA
x Westville Oil & Mfg. Inc .
Box 587, State Road #2
Westville, md. 46391
Telephone: 219—785—2534
Contact: Andrew Carson
Visit Date: 8/14/73
Visited By: N.J. Weinstein
(with Teknekron)
KANSAS
Coral Refining Company
765 Pawnee Avenue
Kansas City, Kansas 66105
Telephone: 913—281—5454
Contact: Robert O’Blasny
Visit Date: 8/7/73
Visited By: C. Rai
140
-------
MICHIGAN
X Dearborn Refining Company
3901 Wyoming Avenue
Dearborn, Michigan 48120
Telephone: 313—VI-3—1700
Contact: Jack W. Epstein
B Horton
Visit Date: 7/31/73
Visited By: N.J. Weinstein
MINNESOTA
X Warden Oil Company
187 Humboldt Avenue North
Minneapolis, Minn. 55405
Telephone: 612—374—1200
Contact: A. L. Warden
Visit Date: 7/30/73
Visited N.J. Weinstein
Gopher State Oil Co .
2500 Delaware St. SE
Minneapolis, Minn.
55405
Telephone: 612—331—5936
Contact: C.H. Romness
Visit Date: None planned
MISSISSIPPI
X Jackson Oil Products Cc, .
Box 5686
Jackson, Miss. 39208
Telephone: 601—939—3131
Contact: H.K. Robertson
Visit Date: None Planned
MISSOURI
X Midwest Oil Refining Co .
1900 Walton Road
St. Louis, Mo. 63114
Telephone: 314—427—2662
Contact: Glen Gettinger
Visit Date: 7/23/73
Visited By: A.T. Goding
NEBRASKA
Monarch Oil Company
Box 1257
22nd Street & Avenue H East
East Omaha, Nebraska 68101
Telephone: 402—341—5254
Contact: Marvin Walenz
Visit Date: None planned
NEW JERSEY
Diamond Head Oil Refining Co .
1427 Harrison Tnpk.
Kearney, New Jersey 07032
Telephone: 201—991—5800
Contact: Martin Morrison
Visit Date: 8/17/73
Visited By: C. Rai
X National Oil Recovery Corp
Box 338
Bayonne, New Jersey
Telephone: 201—437—7300
Contact: Soifred Maizus
Visit Date: 7/12/73
Visit By: N.J. Weinstein
C. Rai, A.T. God-
NEW YORK
ing
George T. Booth & Son, Inc .
76 Robinson Street
North Tonawanda, N.Y. 14120
Telephone: 716—693—0861
Contact: George T. Booth
Visit Date: 7/23/73
Visited By: A.T. Goding
141
-------
Northeast Oil Company
327 Edward Drive
Fayetteville, N.Y.
Telephone: 315—454—4180
Contact: R.W. Mahier
Visit Date: None planned
Newtown Refining Corp .
37-80 Review Avenue
Long Island City, N.Y. 11101
Telephone: 212-RA9-7660
Contact: R.W. Mahier
Visit Date: None planned
NORTH CAROLINA
Seaboard Industries, Inc .
South Oil Division
Box 106, Old Burlington Road
Greensboro, N.C. 27402
Telephone: 919—375—5811
Contact: Byron Cohen
Visit Date: None planned
See Georgia
OHIO
Research Oil Refining Company
3680 Valley Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44109
Telephone: 216—749—2777
Contact: Jac Fallenberg
Alan Gressel
Visit Date: None planned
(recent fire)
X Keenan Oil Company
#1 Parkway Drive
Cincinnati, Ohio 45212
Telephone: 513—631—2900
Contact: S.R. Passell
Visit Date: None planned
OKLAHOMA
X Double 9le Refining Co .
Box 11257
Oklahoma City, Okla. 73111
Telephone: 405—232—0244
(plant) :405—232—6878
Contact: Frank Kerran
Cameron L. Kerran
Visit Date: 8/8/73
Visited By: C. Rai
OREGON
Nu-Way Oil Company
7039 NE 46th Avenue
Portland, Oregon 97218
Telephone: 503—281—9375
Contact: A.L. Geary
Visit Date: 7/24/73 (at
Ager & Davis Refining Co)
Visited By: N.J. Weinstein
(with Teknekron)
Ager & Davis Refining Co .
9901 NE 33rd Street
Portland, Oregon 97211
Telephone: 503—288—3584
Contact: Harold W. Ager, Jr.
Visit Date: 7/24/73
Visited By: N.J. Weinstein
(with Teknekron)
PENNSYLVANIA
Berks Associates, Inc .
Box 617
Pottstown, Pa. 19464
Telephone: 215—385—3031
Contact: Lester Schurr
Visit Date: 7/11/73
Visited By: N.J. Weinstein,
C. Rai, A.T. Goding
142
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Petrocan Corporation
P.O. Box 547
Valley Forge, Pa. 19481
Telephone: 215—383—5262
Contact: John Cunningham
Visit Date: 8/17/73
Visited By: A.T. Goding
(with P.B. Lederman)
TENNESSEE
X Gurley Oil Company
Box 2326
Memphis, Tennessee 38102
Telephone :901—527—9940
Contact: William M Gurley
Visit Date: 8/7/73
Visited By: C. Rai
TEXAS
S&R Oil Company
Box 35516
Houston, Texas 77035
Telephone: 713—729—8740
Contact: R.A. Swasey
Visit Date: 8/9/73
Visited By C. Rai
Capital Supply & Refining Co .
Box 597
1401 West Hurst Blvd.
Hurst, Texas 76053
Contact: Abel Theriot
Visit Date: None planned
Texas American Oil
300 Westwall, •Suite 1012
Midland, Texas 79701
Telephone: 915—683—4811
Contact: William F. Judd
Visit Date: 8/9/73
Visited By: C. Rai
UTAH
X Alco Refining Company
133 North First West
Salt Lake City, Utah 84113
Contact: J.R. Mastelotto
Visit Date: None planned
VIRGINIA
A.C. Oil Company
1500 North Quincy St.
Arlington, Va. 22207
Contact: V.T. Worthington
Visit Date: None planned
WISCONSIN
Warden Refining Company
1910 South 73rd
W. Allis, Wisconsin 53214
Telephone: 414—541—1000
Contact: M.A. Warden
Visit Date: 8/14/73
Visited By: N.J. Weinstein
(with Teknekron)
WASHINGTON
QED Corporation
V.0. Box 1004
Renton, Washington 98055
Telephone: 206—271—1540
Contact: William S. Kemp
Visit Date: 7/16/73
Visited By: J. Weinstein
(with P.B. Lederman)
“X” indicates Members of
Association of Petroleum Re—
Refiners.
143
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APPENDIX B
LUBRICATING OIL ADDITIVES
144
-------
LUBRICANT ADDITIVES *
Prevent rust
formation in
areas above
the oil level.
Volatile
ba8ic com-
pounds are
vaporized
with water
and keep cone
densate basic.
ADVERSE EFFECTS LIMITS OF ACTIVITY
Can increase oil Most additives
vapor pressure, have an optimum
promote (in the temperature range
case of zinc and are not
organics) corrosion uniformly effec-
and cause heavy tive at prevent-
oil sludging ing all forms of
and darkening catalytic oxida—
(in some nitrogen tion.
compounds).
Reduce oil
oxidation re-
sistance and
promote forma-
tion of
emulsions.
Re-inhibition
required in
systems volatiljz..
ing large volumes
of watar.
OTHER
TYPICAL COMPOUNDS POSSIBLE COMPOUNDS
Hindered phenols,
bisphenols, metal
(especially zinc)
dialkyl dithio—
phosphates, com-
pounds of nitrogen
and sulfur.
Low-molecular-
weight amines
having a wide
boiling range.
Anti— Ensure rapid
Poamants collapse of
larqe air
bubbles;
prevent
excessive oil
oxidation.
Attracted to
oil/air inter-
faces, they
lower the
surface tension
of air bubbles,
causing the
formation of
quick-breaking
large bubbles.
Silicone types
tend to promote
air entrainment
(the formation
of tiny, long—
lasting bubbles).
Other types
may promote
emulsion forma-
tion.
Some lubricant
additives or
contaminants may
render anti—
foamants inef-
fective.
* Derived
Silicone polymers, Waxes.
methacrylate
polymers.
from Miller
TYPE
Oxidation
REASON FOR USE
HOW THEY WORE
Decompose
Prevent or control
Inhibitor
formation of
varnish, sludge
and corrosive
compounds.
Limit viscosity
increase.
peroxides,
inhibit free-
radical forms—
tion, and pa.-
sivate metal
surfaces.
Rust
Prevent forma—
Polar type
Preventive,
tion of rust
compounds
Liquid Phase
in areas under
the oil,
especially
during
equipment
shutdown.
react with
or are ad—
sorbed on
metal sur-
faces,
Vapor Phase
I- ’
U,
Barium dialkyl
dithiophosphates,
phosphitas,
aisines,
Alkyl amines,
amine phosphate.,
acid phosphate
esters.
Reduce oil oxida-
Only effective in
Sulfonates, soaps,
tion resistance
the oil—wetted
fatty acids,
and promote
parts of the
phosphates, mono-
formation of
system.
and difunctional
emulsions,
organic acids
and esters.
-------
OTHER
TYPE REASON FOR USE HOW THEY WORE ADVERSE EFFECTS LIMITS OP ACTIVITY TYPICAL COMPOUNDS POSSIBLE COMPOUNDS
Viscosity Reduce th. rate Thsp* polymirs Polymer, shear in Many polymers ax- Polyisobutylen. Succinimid.—
Index of viscosity ar. tightly service, thus hibit “VI humps” (such as STP), acrylic acid
Improver, change with coiled (and causing the corn- (e.g., concentra- rnethacrylate reaction
temperature, relatively pounded oil to tion ranges be— polymers, some products,
insoluble) in suffer both yond which further copolymers. ethylene—pro—
oil at low “temporary” and additive addition pylene polymer
temperatures “permanent” vis- will not increase derivatives.
and uncoiled cosity loss. Whsn V i ).
(and quite high VI finished
soluble) in oils are desired,
oil at high the base oils
temperatures. must have low
VI improver. viscosities,
contribute to hence low flash
oil viscosity points.
at higher tem-
pers tu re s
preventing
“thinning.”
Pour Lower the Prevent wax None. Th. pour—point Methacrylat. Polyacrylwnides.
Depressant. pour point crystal- depression effect polymer.,
or “freez— growth or oil of any single alkylated
ing point”) absorption at polymer is naphthalen.
of paraffinic low tempera- limited and often or phenols.
oils. Most turss. specific , So
pourpoint de— combinations of
pression. ars pour depressant.
less than 40’?. are often used.
(say ,from 20
to—20F.) and
are achi.vød
with less than
2% additive.
-------
OTHER
YPE REASON FOR USE HOW THEY WORX ADVERSE EFFECT$ LIMITS OF ACTIVITY TYPICAL COMPOUNDS ‘ POSSIBLE COMPOUNDS
Extreme Modify friction Form physical Promote oil EP agents require Oilnesa—fatty Organic compounds
Pressure properties, or chemical oxidation, heat (generated acids and soaps, with barium,
(EP), reduce wear, bonds with foaming, by metal—to-metal Antiwear-impure antimony,
Oiliness prevent galling rubbing emulsification contact) to be tricresyl bismuth,
& Antiwear, and seizing. surfaces that and corrosive effective, Not phosphates, silicon, moly—
provide supple— tendencies, all desired oili— metal dialkyl bdenum, sulfur,
mental “wearing Thermal ness properties dithiophosphates. phosphorus,
surfaces.N stability is are contributed EP-organic nitrogen,
The key is weakened, by one set of phosphates, lead halogens,
friction and additives. The and chlorine carboxyl or
wear control, General Motors compounds. carboxylate
rather than Automatic trans— salts, silicones,
elimination, mission Fluid (AT?) polyphenyls ,
is unsuitable for
Ford Transmissionsj
the Ford ATF does
not have suitable
friction properties
for GM transmissions.
-------
OTHER
REASON FOR USE HOW THEY WORK ADVERSE EFFECTS LIMITS OF ACTIVITY TYPICAL COMPOUNDS POSSIBLE COMPOUNDS
Detergents, Keep sludg.s Chemical and Promote Eventually, Often dispersants Metal containing-
Disp.r.ant.. suspended physical emulsification saturation is are referred to barium, calcium,
and surfaces forces of water, reached. This as “nonmetallic” magnesium,
clean, combine to Compete with is why even or “nitrogen zinc organic.,
Dispersion keep sludges antifoasnant., 6,000 ml. auto- containing” succinates,
implies only solubilized, antiwsar, motive oils organic compounds, transition
the act of and thus oiliness, EP must be changed. while sulfonates, metal amino-
keeping prevent and antiruet phenates, and phosphoro—
sludges in agglomerating, additives for other metal or dithioates,
suspension.. interf aces with P2S5 containing phosphonates,
air and metal, compounds are alkyl substituted
referred to as salicylates;
“detergents.”
ashless-alkenyl
succinlmldes,
alkyl-acylic
polymers,
succinatea,
trjazjne and
phosphorus acid,
polyhydric alcohols
+ polycarboxylic
acids, modified
polyola fins,
sulfurization/
polyamines,
styrene-maleic
anhydride
Copolymers.
-------
OTHER
TYPE REASON FOR USE HOW THEY WOPA ADVERSE EFFECTS LIMITS OF ACTIVITY TYPICAL COMPOUNDS POSSIBLE COMPOUNDS
Emulsifiers Hold oil & water Polar-type Reduces oil oxide- Different emulsifiers Metal sulfonatas: Fatty acid soaps.
together in (both ionic tion resistance, must be used for glycols; ethoxylated
emulsion-type or nonionic) Fights activity every oil, every phenols, alcohols
cutting fluids, compounds of antiwear, EP, concentration of or acids; naphthenic
coolants and line up at oiliness, anti- water and, often, acids.
hydraulic fluid .. oil/water rust, and anti- every service
interfaces, foam agents. temperature.
and thus May cause seal
they provide swelling.
solubility
bridges
between the
oil and
water.
w
Metal Passivat. A protective Often promotes Each deactivator Zinc dialkyl dithio Organic dihydroxy
Deactivators metal eux— barrier is oil color c ia— must be chosen phosphates, metal phosphinea,
faces so that formed over gradation. for the metal phenolates, organic phosphitas,
they do not the entire it will contact. nitrogen compounds. sulfur compounds.
act as a metal surface. When competitive
catalyst in surfactants are
oil oxidation, around, however,
effectiveness is
limited.
Other
Additives: Perfumee .and formaldehyde compounds as antiodorants with EP additives; alcohols, phenol., chlorine
compounds as antiseptice for emulsion lubricants; as in. compounds as color stabilizers; polyacrylates
and polybutenes as tackiness agents for gear oils.
-------
APPENDIX C
PITTSBURGH SURVEY METHODOLOGY AND DATA
Page
METHODOLOGY 151
PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLES 155
ORGANIZATIONALLY OWNED VEHICLES 163
NON-VEHICULAR USES 169
COLLECTORS SURVEY AND PRELIMINARY
MATERIAL BALANCE 172
SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE AND DATA 175
150
-------
METHODOLOGY
SAMPLE DESIGN
In order to define the sample, which would include the
entire Pittsburgh Metropolitan area, the six Pittsburgh and
suburban telephone directories were used as a source for
service station names. These directories were grouped
into the following areas: Pittsburgh City, North and West
suburbs, Northeast and East suburbs and South and Southwest
suburbs. Each area was defined by telephone exchange number
and counts were made of the total number for each stratum as
shown below:
TELEPHONE AREAS
PITTSBURGH NORTH AND NORTHEAST SOUTH AND
COMPANY CITY WEST AND EAST SOUTHWE$ p
Amoco 5 of 44
ARCO 5of55 3of15 3of 15
Boron 6 of 66 3 of 16 3 of 17
EXXON 5 of 44 3 of 22 3 of 14
Gulf 6 of 67 3 of 15 3 of 14
Mobil 3 of 20 3 of 14
Sunoco 5 of 50 3 of 20
Texaco 3 of 23
Other 6 of 142 6 of 90 6 of 75 6 of 63
Where no number appears for a particular company for
each stratum, that company was included in the “other”
stratum.
Also included in the sample were 4 service stations
located on highways and 4 truck stops randomly selected
from the entire area.
Service stations were randomly selected within each
stratum, making a total of 100 service stations, ut of a
universe of about 900, to be cotitacted.
151
-------
INTERVIEWING EXPERIENCE
Interviewer training was held August 18th for all inter-
viewers working on the study, to insure a thorough knowledge
of the study, the questionnaire, and the sample. Inter-
viewers were instructed to approach each assigned service
station and ask to speak with the owner or operator. If he
was unavailable,appointments were made for a time that was
convenient to him. A letter from Response Analysis ex-
plaining the nature of the study, that Response Analysis was
conducting the Study for the Environmental Protection Agency
was handed to the respondent before the interview began.
Each respondent was assured through the letter and the in-
terviewer that individual answers would be kept in strict
confidence and results would be available only as a sta-
tistical compilation. According to the interviewers the
majority of respondents were knowledgable and very cooperative.
The importance of each of the one hundred interviews
was stressed to the interviewers since no replacements were
to be made. Only if the service station was no longer in
business or it had changed companies,was a new station
randomly selected to replace it. Every effort was made to
complete an interview with each station. The results of the
interviewing were as follows:
PITTSBURGH CITY
#Contacted Complete Refused
Amoco 6 4 1
ARCO 5 5
Boron 6 6
EXXON 6 4
Gulf 6 6
Mobil 3 3
Sunoco 6 4 1
Texaco 3 3
Other 8 4* 1
152
-------
NORTH AND WEST
#Contacted Complete Refused
Amoco
ARCO
Boron 3 1 2
EXXON 3 2 1
Cu if
Mobil
Sunoco 3 2*
Texaco
Other 8 4* 1
NORTHEAST & EAST
#Contacted Complete Refused
Amoco
ARCO 3 1 2
Boron 3 2 1
EXXON
Gulf 3 2 1
Mobil 3 3
Sun o co
Texaco
Other 6 5 1
153
-------
SOUTH & SOUTHWEST
#Contacted Complete Refused
Amoco
ARCO 3 3
Boron
EXXON 4 2
Gulf 5 3
Mobil
Sun oco
Texaco
Other 9 6
* Three questionnaires which were completed,one in
each stratum, are not included. These were lost in
the mail.
Out of the 4 highway service stations interviewed,3
were completed. Two truck stop interviews were completed
of the seven contacted.
The data was collected from 80 service stations,and
compiled in order to analyze four areas:
- Oil Changes
- Removal, collection and storage
- Disposal
— Estimates of available wastes
With this information, the availability of wastes and
the disposal of them in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area
can be determined.
154
-------
PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLES
OVERVIEW
Personal interviews with owners or managers of almost
100 service stations, new car dealers, and garages or auto-
mobile maintenance facilities were conducted in the Pitts-
burgh area. There were a number of useful results of those
interviews. However, the attempt to gather data to give
reasonably precise quantitative estimates of the waste oil
collected was unsuccessful. The owners or managers of
various facilities for doing oil changes simply did not
accurately know how many oil changes they did, nor how much
waste oil they collected.
It is our belief, based on the survey experience,.that
no procedure short of monitoring actual service records for
a period of perhaps as long as one year could hope to pro-
duce data with any real precision. Aside from such com-
plications as seasonal variations, the basic problem is that
there is no reason for the typical maintenance facility to
keep records on the number of oil changes, or even on the
total amounts of waste oil collected. The result is that
the only collectable data involves the perceptions of the
facility owner or manager. From the contradictory results
obtained by asking each respondent for the same information
in different ways, it is clear that these perceptions do
not lead to reliable data.
The most important positive result of the survey was to
establish that the overwhelming majority of service stations
and others who do oil changes on private automobiles do re-
cycle the waste crankcase oil. Almost without exception
the maintenance facilities were equipped with underground
storage tanks which were emptied relatively regularly by
waste oil collectors. Generally speaking, the collector
provides the convenience of a collection service in return
for the oil. It is partly for this reason that the service
station owners generally did not even know the total amount
collected.
OIL PER SERVICE STATION
The great bulk of the survey interviews were with
service station owners and/or managers. A total of 83
interviews were actually carried out, although three of
these were lost in the mail when returned from the inter—
155
-------
viewer. Thus, the tabular results at the end of this
Appendix are actually based on 80 interviews.
Each respondent was asked in a number of different
ways about his oil usage and waste oil collection. The
intent of these multiple approaches to obtain the same data
was as a check on intentional misrepresentation. The re-
sults, however, appear to show unintentional, uninformed
error rather than misrepresentation. This follows from the
fact that the actual results of the various approaches for
each respondent are, if anything, almost random in their
variations.
The following tables give the results of three ways of
asking respondent service station owners or managers for
the amount of waste oil they generate per year. In the
first table, two columns of figures on waste oil are shown.
The first is based on, to us, inexplicable testimony as to
quarts of oil removed from a car per oil change. The second
gives the waste oil removed from crankcases assuming an
average of 4.5 quarts (1.13 gallons) per change.
This inability to accurately estimate the waste oil
they remove from crankcases turns out to have occurred in,
at least, one and quite probably other previous studies.
For example, a study in Maryland, 5 the report of which be-
came available after this study was carried out., shows the
same phenomena. Again the number of oil changes indicates
far less waste oil available then does the claimed oil
collectable.
Using even our estimate of 4.5 quarts per oil change
(Table C—i, last column), the three results obtained in the
survey vary by a factor of almost two to one. Clearly the
precision of any results, obtained from data with such
variability, is sharply limited. The best we are able to
do is to make some judgmental decision. For the remainder
of this report we propose to simply roughly average the
three results (allowing for non—response) and use a figure
of 1,100 gallons per station per year. This corresponds to
about 20 oil changes per station per week. While this
figure is obviously just a ball—park estimate which must be
checked against other approaches, it does have at least
the minimal virtue of seeming reasonable from subjective
experience.
156
-------
TABLE C-i OIL CHANGES DONE, ALL VEHICLES*
GALLONS/YEAR
TESTI- APPROXIMATE
MONY TOTAL TOTAL OIL REMOVED
SERVICE REMOVED FROM ON BASIS OF 4.5
STATIONS OIL CHANGES QUARTS PER CHANGE
No Oil Changes 3
1—5 13 1,750 2,200
6—10 20 6,180 10,100
11—15 20 11,620 16,200
Average
Number
ganges 16—20 9 6,470 10,100
Per
Week
21—25 7 7,400 9,600
26 or more 6 11,980 15,200
Don’t Know 2
TOTAL GIVEN
VALUE 78 45,400 63,400
* Based on Questions 5,11,14,18
157
-------
TABLE C-2. OIL BOUGHT AND USED
FOR OIL CHANGES*
Gallons
Per Year
SOLD AT ISLAND 46,983 39•9
USED FOR OIL CHANGES 70,419 59.8
OTHER (SOLD TO INDIVIDUALS
FOR BOATS, LAWN MOWERS) 452 0.4
TOTAL OIL BOUGHT 117,854 100.0
* Based on Questions 1,4
158
-------
TABLE C-i. WASTE AVAILABLE AND
COLLECTED IN GALLONS PER YEAR*
WASTE OIL
OIL FROM INDIVIDUALS
SOLVENTS
GREASES
TRANSMISSION FLUID
BRAKE FLUID
ANTIFREEZE
TOTAL
TOTAL
WASTE
AVAILABLE
112,780
280
155
14
437
34
4,808
118,508
TOTAL
STORED FOR
COLLECTION
111,400(99%)
280(100%)
35 (2 3%)
13(93%)
327(69%)
29(85%)
58(1%)
112 , 142
TOTAL
UNCOLLECTED
1, 370 (1%)
120 (7 7%)
1(7%)
146(31%)
5(15%)
4,750(99%)
6,392
* Based primarily on Question 34
159
-------
AUTOMOBILE DEALERS AND AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE CENTERS
The data on automobile dealers and other forms of auto-
motive service centers, such as retailers, are based on 10
interviews in the Pittsburgh area. From these interviews
we estimate that the typical service center might do about
40 oil changes a week and the typical new car dealer might
do about 80.
OVERALL PRIVATE VEHICLE WASTE OIL
There are two ways of estimating the total number of
service stations in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The
first is by a direct count of service stations which are
listed in the Yellow Pages used in drawing the sample. These
Yellow Pages cover about 80% of the population in the Pitts-
burgh metropolitan area, although a substantially smaller
fraction of the land area. The actual count of service
stations was approximately 1,000. If one assumes that the
oil changes done are proportional to population, then the
equivalent number of service stations doing an average of
20 oil changes per month each would be approximately 1,250.
Due to the greater physical area on the communities not
covered by those Yellow Pages used in the survey, the number
of service stations might be larger, but the number of oil
changes per station in the less densely populated areas
would presumably be smaller.
One alternative method for estimating the number of
service stations is use of the 1967 Census of Businesses.
According to the Census Bureau there were 2,069 service
stations at that time in the four-county Pittsburgh SMSA.
However, we believe this figure to be high in relation to
our results, because of two reasons: first, the af ore-
mentioned question of stations in low density areas; second,
the counting by the Census Bureau of garages or service
centers such as those at many Sears stores, which we clas-
sified in other categories.
Allowing for limited non-listing in the Yellow Pages,
we take as a best estimate 1,400 equivalent service stations
(i.e., service stations with maintenance equivalent to those
which formed the population for sampling).
For new car dealers and others we made direct counts of
the firms listed in any one Yellow Page Directory. This is
reasonable, because virtually all firms of this type turned
out to be listed in each area Yellow Pages, with the listings
160
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for any particular make of car being separated by town.
Using this approach we get about 130—140 new car dealers
and 60-70 service centers or equivalent maintenance facil-
ities. Using these admittedly rough and imprecise figures
as a basis, the overall total private vehicle waste crank-
case oil available for recovery per year appears to be
approximately:
1,400 service stations x 1,100 gallons = 1.5
Service station million
gallons
+ 135 new car dealers x 4,400 gallons = 0.61
Dealer million
gal ions
+ 65 maintenance centers x 2,200 gallons = 0.15
Center million
gal ions
Total = 2.3
million
gallons
per year
ANOTHER APPROACH AND PRECISION
Another way to approach the quantity of waste oil re-
coverable from private automobiles is:
From national figures on cars per person, estimate
the number of private automobiles in Pittsburgh:
900, 000;
Estimate the number of oil changes per car per year
subjectivel y at 3.7 (allowing for 10% of cars not
using service stations and 3 changes);
Estimate the quantity of oil recoverable at 4.5
quarts or L13 gallons;
giving an estimate of 2.6 million gallons of service station
recoverable waste oil. WE EMPHASIZE that we do not have
any data on which to base the number of service station
changes per car and only data which we have chosen earlier
to disbelieve on quarts per oil change. Nonetheless, in
light of the pilot nature of the study and the results and
161
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claims of previous studies it seems worthwhile to esti-
mate the kinds of numbers obtainable in various ways.
These numbers give some idea of the precision in the
survey based figure of 2.3 million gallons given above. We
believe that an allowance for error of as much as + 33% must
be attached to these figures.
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ORGANIZATIONALLY OWNED VEHICLES
INTRODUCTION
This section deals with vehicles of all types owned by
organizations of all types. The data is drawn from about
a dozen interviews with a wide variety of types of organi-
zations in the Pittsburgh area, and from various published
industry sources. No serious attempt is made to give
precise quantitative results, although some effort is made
to set order of magnitude estimates of the quantities of
recoverable waste oil generated. Most of this waste oil is
available for recycling although a substantial and growing
fraction may not be. The oil which is not or will not be
available for recycling is primarily from “company” cars of
a wide variety of organizations ranging from utilities and
government to manufacturing and distribution firms. The
main intent is thus to provide a catalog of uses in-
dicating at least an estimate of the order or magni-
tude of each use.
There are five main categories of vehicles considered:
Rental fleets: cars or trucks available for rental
by the general public, where the renter provides the
driver.
For—hire-trucking: trucks available for freight
delivery of one form or another, but where the
trucking firm provides the driver. This category
includes trucks involved in distribution functions
such as United Parcel and the U. S. mail.
Direct organizational use: cars and trucks used
directly by organizations as an integral part of
their own business.
Automotive forms of public transportation:
basically buses and taxis.
Non—automotive forms of transportation: various
forms, such as planes, ships and trains.
RENTAL TO THE PUBLIC
From the viewpoint of this study there are, at least,
four different types of rental car and truck organizations
dealing with the public.
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Major rental firms with their own service tacilities.
Basically, these are the three largest national
firms (Hertz, National and Avis) and such other
local or regional firms as happen to have a
substantial concentration of cars in a single
place and do their own servicing. Note
that this category includes only situations where
the present company does the servicing, not the
franchise owner.
Rental firms using others for the servicing, where
there are generally service stations.
Included here are such firms as Budget and Econo-
car, as well as local firms.
Service stations which have rental facilities.
Many of these have franchises from a national
firm, but are included when they are responsible
for their own maintenance.
Auto dealers who also rent cars.
These firms generally use their own new car
service facilities for servicing their own
rental cars.
As considered here, rental includes both short and long
term arrangements, but only where the dealer, and not the
customer, is responsible for maintenance. Trucks, small
car trailers, and similar vehicles account for a substantial
portion of the total rental vehicles. For instance, various
industry reports indicate that nationwide Hertz, Avis and
National together own about 300,000 cars and about 50,000
trucks.
Altogether, rental vehicles probably make up no more
than about one percent of cars, and a slightly higher pro-
portion of trucks. However, rental cars generate a signif i—
cantly higher proportion of crankcase waste oil available
for recycling, since they get so much greater usage per car.
Typically, a rental car might be driven about 40,000 miles,
or 2 1/2 to 3 times as many miles as a private automobile,
with a correspondingly higher oil usage (40,000 miles in one
year that is). Further, being new cars they would not
usually do oil changes by replacement of burnt oil, as sales
164
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of oil at the island indicate is the case in many older
cars.
The data gathered in Pittsburgh on this class of users
was useful mainly in indicating the range and variety of
rental car firms. Four interviews were conducted, with three
of the respondents also involved in selling and servicing
cars other than their own rental cars.
We estimate that the approximately 150 rental agencies
listed in the Pittsburgh telephone book Yellow Pages might
do as many as 1,000 oil changes per week, and generate in
the order of 60,000 gallons of waste oil per year.
This is slightly over two percent of the oil available
from privately owned autos. In dealing with rental firms in
a national study, care will have to be taken to distinguish
between facilities used for rental cars only, and facilities
also used for other purposes. The purpose would be not only
to be sure of getting a representative sample, but also to
avoid the possible double counting implicit in separate
samples of rental firms, new car dealers, etc.
FOR-HIRE-TRUCKING
According to the Fausett study, 8 ° for-hire-trucking
accounts for about seven percent of the waste oil generated
by transportation modes. While some trucking firms have
their own facilities for maintenance, others and particularly
individual owners or small delivery services use public
garages or service stations. These latter were covered in
the previous section.
No interviews were done in the Pittsburgh study with
trucking firms which do their own servicing, mostly because
it was felt that they would add little or nothing to our
qualitative understanding of the problems. Large trucking
firms are presumed to behave like other fleet owners, with
whom a number of interviews were completed. Those inter-
views are discussed below.
In any national oil recycling study, two classes of
for—hire trucks would have to be considered; inter-city and
intra—city. Inter—city trucking would include state and
federally licensed trucking firms, licensed for over—road
freight. A special category of such firms are movers
165
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licensed to move furniture or other office or household
goods. Intra—city trucking includes distribution firms such
as United Parcel, individual department stores and the great
majority of the United States Postal Service vehicles.
NOT-FOR-HIRE ORGANIZATIONAL CARS AND TRUCKS
Cars and trucks used by organizations for their own
purposes, i.e., not for delivery,whether of cargo, packages
or mail, are considered in this section, but only when the
fleet is serviced by the owning organization. Three main
types of organizations appear to maintain fleets of suffi-
cient size to be of interest.
Utilities: Interviews with two utilities indicated
that both have substantial fleets, with each vehicle
being used in an extensive fashion. Their vehicles
fall into three classes: “company cars,” i.e., cars
used for internal company business; cars and light
trucks (often quite large) used for general system
development and maintenance. While the nature of
these vehicles is quite different, all of them are
typically serviced in one (or more than one) common
maintenance area. The estimated total number of
such utility vehicles is about 2,000 vehicles in the
Pittsburgh area, or about one vehicle per 1,000
population. Projected nationwide this would be
equivalent to about 200,000 to 300,000 vehicles which
combined (due to intensive use) might generate between
one and two percent of available waste crankcase oil.
Manufacturing and merchandising firms: Many large
companies have extensive vehicular fleets within
plants (e.g. lift trucks), for between-plant move-
ment of materials, and for general company purposes.
The main difference between these firms and utilities
is concentration. A large industrial firm may have
20 to 50 plants (or more) scattered across the country,
with concomitant problems in collecting the oil and
on gathering data on procedures followed. We spoke
with three major Pittsburgh manufacturing firms.
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Governments: Governments employ a wide range of
vehicles. Two features of virtually all govern-
ments are fleets of vehicles used by police and
fire departments. In addition, many larger govern-
ments have fleets for various other uses, such as
what amount to company cars, sanitation vehicles
and, in some cases, public transport (to be dis-
cussed below). Generally, governments with a fleet
of any substantial size appear to do their own
servicing. Based on a Pittsburgh interview plus
experience with a number of local governments in
other areas, governments’ own facilities may not
always be as sophisticated or as conscientious in
recycling waste oil as are utilities or large
corporations. Specifically, governments may tend
to use waste oil for their road departments for dust
settling. They are, however, a fairly easy group to
survey and then incorporate into a waste oil recycling
network.
BUSES AND TAXIS
Our interviews in Pittsburgh indicated that taxi fleets
of sufficient size who have their own garages do appear to
presently recycle oil in the same way as any other garage
or service station; that is, by pickup by a waste oil col-
lector. The quantities involved would appear to be sub-
stantial, given the high number of low speed (i.e., high
heat) miles driven by the average taxi. Figures in the
neighborhood of about 10 gallons per cab per year seem
consistent, both with the limited Pittsburgh data, and
known taxi usage. If so, and assuming one fleet—serviced
taxi per 1,000 people, fleet taxis in the Pittsburgh area
would generate about 20,000 gallons of waste oil per year,
or less than one percent of that generated by privately
owned vehicles.
Buses fall basically into two categories: private and
public ownership. Neither category presents any unusual
problem with the possible exception of long-haul buses
which are similar to larger trucking firms in their diffusion.
NON-AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLES
The Fausett study 8 ° indicated that airplanes generate
less than one percent of all available oil generated in
transportation. Three interviews at the Pittsburgh Airport
with the airport director, an airline, and the major gasoline
167
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firm based at the airport, tended to confirm this low
figure. On the other hand, the facilities they do have
for reclaiming engine oil are relatively sophisticated.
While a national study would certainly have to deal
with railroad and ship uses, no attempt was made to do so
in the Pittsburgh study. Railroads in particular generate
large quantities of oil, according to the Fausett study.
However, this is concentrated in a relatively few main-
tenance yards, and so appears fairly easy to survey. Ships,
on the other hand, present a number of problems from dif-
fusion of ownership to spillage at sea. Thus care would
have to be taken in a national study to include this seg-
ment accurately.
TOTAL VEHICULAR CRANKCASE OIL - TWO APPROACHES
Based on the relatively meagre results of this study,
on the Fausett study, 8 ° and on aggregate data on total
vehicles, we estimate that in Pittsburgh organizationally
owned vehicles have somewhat over one—half the available
oil of privately owned vehicles. Using the rough service
station survey results of the previous section this would
indicate that organizationally owned vehicles generate
between 1.1 and 1.6 million gallons of recoverable crank-
case oil per year.
Altogether, then, we estimate vehicular crankcase oil
at about 2.7 to 4.8 million gallons per year with a best
survey estimate of 3.7 million gallons. To give some idea
of the relationship of these numbers to the number of
vehicles in the Pittsburgh area, we consider the following:
Altogether there are approximately 1.4 million
automotive vehicles in Pittsburgh. If each
vehicle produced about 3 gallons of recoverable
waste oil per year (i.e., a little under 3 oil
changes per year), the total amount recoverable
would be about 4.2 million callons. This would
be in the upper range of the survey indicated
data, and quite possibly indicates the survey
figure is somewhat low.
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NON-VEHICULAR USES
INTRODUCTION
This section deals with non—vehicular usage. No at-
tempt is made here to be complete. However, five major
classes of generation of waste oil are identified. These
are lubrication (including cutting and other moving parts
usage), electrical insulation, solvents, processes, and
spillage (including pipeline spillage during transportation
of the oil itself). A striking (if only tentative) result
using our somewhat limited data is that lubrication uses
may rank as low as fourth among the five classes considered
in terms of quantity of waste oil recoverable or available
for recycling. Specifically, use of oil for electrical in-
sulation, for solvents, and the amount of lost oil (spillage
during transportation of the oil) all seem to produce greater
quantities of oil suitable for recycling. We emphasize
that the accuracy of this conclusion requires substantial
further testing, with the surest approach being a project-
able national survey. On the other hand, the conclusion is
consistent with a reasonable interpretation of previous
work. For instance, in the Maryland study, 5 two-thirds of
all non-vehicular industrial oil had to be classified
“other” and less than one—fourth was grouped in the three
separate lubrication categories specified.
LUBRICATION
It appears that lubrication of machines today is done
with very limited amounts of recoverable oil. Our first
indication of this phenomenon was in the pretest stage. We
could not find machine shops in New Jersey which generated
sufficient waste oil to justify an interview. Other studies,
notably the Maryland one, have also found lubrication to
account for only a small fraction of oil used.
Interviews with major Pittsburgh firms (including the
utilities), bore out this initial impression, with one ex-
ception. Rolling mills do generate substantial amounts of
lubrication waste oil. This oil is used over and over but
eventually becomes contaminated. The firm we spoke with,
which generated substantial rolling mill waste oil, was
already using it for fuel.
The utilities we talked to had little if any lubri-
cation oil available. From our New Jersey experience the
169
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same would apply to smaller machine shops in general. On
this basis we would anticipate that a national study should
expect most lubricating uses to be in heavy industrial
settings such as rolling.
NON-LUBRICATION INDUSTRIAL USES
A major use of oil for industrial purposes is in the
insulation of a vast array of electrical equipment, includ-
ing cable, switches and generators. The waste oil develops
from spillage, contamination, and obsolescence of the parti-
cular equipment. Waste oil of this type was the single
largest kind found in interviews with utilities and in
manufacturers of electrical equipment.
Lube type oils are used as a solvent or process oil in
a wide variety of industrial processes. Any resulting
wastes can be segregated into two classes: those uses
where the oil is reclaimable in an economic manner either
because it has not been appreciably altered in use or be—
cause the material dissolved in it can be easily removed,
and those uses where the dissolved material can only be re-
moved at considerable cost. In interviews with industrial
users we found a significant amount of reclaimable oil.
However, our data is far too sparse to allow meaningful
statements about total oil available for recycling.
SPILLAGE
In interviews with collectors, we found that one of the
largest, if not the largest single source of waste oil in
the tn-state area centered around Pittsburgh, was spillage
of the oil in the process of transportation, specifically
at pipeline pumping stations. Given the very large quanti-
ties of oil that may be involved, spillage of even a small
fraction means the availability of large quantities of oil.
The characteristics of this oil may vary from day to day,
and this oil actually includes such types as home heating
oil.
OVERALL AVAILABILITY
Industrial uses of oil are believed to account for
about 55—60% of all oil sold in the U. S. However, they
account for a far smaller portion of recoverable oil (pro-
bably no more than one—quarter) and a still smaller
fraction of oil available for external recycling. We would
very roughly estimate that industrial oil accounts for
170
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around 20% of the used (as opposed to pipeline spilled) oil
presently being collected in Pittsburgh. This estimate is
based primarily on subtracting vehicular estimates from the
total collection figures to be presented in the next section.
Further, waste oil available for external recycling from
industrial uses is surely declining as industry more and
more uses any large quantities for its own fuel needs.
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COLLECTOR SURVEY AND
PRELIMINARY MATERIAL BALANCE
COLLECTORS-ANOTHER APPROACH TO AVAILABILITY
In the previous sections we have dealt with qualitative
and quantitative data related to the generation of waste
oil. It is also possible to approach waste oil recycling
from the other end, that is from the viewpoint of what is
presently collected. This viewpoint has the obvious limi-
tation that it can describe only that oil which is already
being handled in at least potentially environmentally sound
ways. Given the very wide gaps and imprecisions in our
knowledge of the quantities of waste oil generated, it can-
not even by subtraction indicate the quantities either being
used or internally recycled by the generators themselves or
disposed of by dumping.
Once these limitations are understood it is useful to
develop an understanding of what is presently being re-
covered. We conducted six interviews with collectors of
waste oil in the Pittsburgh area. Of these, three turned
out to be middlemen who merely collect the oil for delivery
to the storage and refining plant of the one large operation.
We estimate on the basis of these interviews that the total
waste or spilled oil collected by recyclers located in the
Pittsburgh area to be about 11 million gallons per year.
This, however, includes significant quantities of oil
actually generated outside the Pittsburgh SMSA, including
West Virginia, Maryland and Ohio.
On the other hand, almost without exception, every
Pittsburgh area generator of waste oil, and in particular
the service stations who could name their collector,
specified a Pittsburgh based firm. Thus, there was a
significant net inflow of waste oil for recycling into
Pittsburgh. Overall, based on interviews, we estimate that
the Pittsburgh based collectors gather
about 4.5 to 5.5 million gallons from the Pitts-
burgh area;
about 3.0 to 3.5 million gallons of pipeline oil
spillage from a wide area around Pittsburgh; and
about 3.0 to 3.5 million gallons from other than
pipeline sources outside Pittsburgh.
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PRELIMINARY MATERIAL BALP CES
Given the vastly different distribution, usage, waste
generation and collection procedures, it is worthwhile to
divide an oil material balance into two segments; auto-
motive and industrial. In this section we describe some
of the factors involved in such balances and give some very
tentative figures for Pittsburgh.
Automobile oil: Total automobile oil sold in the
United States is estimated at about 1.1 billion
gallons annually. Figures on a state by state
basis show that sales are far from uniform. Specifi-
cally, states with the majority of their populations
in metropolitan areas have consistently lower per
capita usage than do farm states or states with
widely scattered populations. Elsewhere in this
report we estimate that just about half of all oil
sold is available for recycling. Two major factors
in this lower than usual estimate are the large
amounts of oil burnt in 2 cycle engines and the
amounts of industrial auto fleet oil which is used
internally. This would imply that in Pittsburgh a
total of perhaps 7 million gallons of new oil was
sold per year with about 4 million gallons being
available for recycling. Extrapolating from the
national sales figures and taking into account the
lower per capita usage in metropolitan areas, these
figures still seem low. A more reasonable figure
appears to be about 9 million gallons sold implying
about 5 million gallons available for recycling.
It is, of course, feasible that a significant
portion of the difference between 4 million and 5
million gallons is being recycled by fleet auto
owners themselves.
Industrial users: Based on survey both from col-
lectors and large industrial users, the quantities
of industrial waste oil collected by outside firms
is relatively small and declining. An overall
figure for Pittsburgh of approximately one million
gallons is probably about the right size. This
compares with projected Pittsburgh area sales of
perhaps 15 million gallons. Of the remainder,
substantial amounts are actually recoverable, but
are not available for external recycling because
of internal recycling or use.
173
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Combined: Overall, with the usual cautions on gross
margins or error, we estimate, based on all the various
approaches considered, that the individuals and
firms in Pittsburgh
1. Purchase about 24 million gallons of
oil per year (9 million gallons auto-
motive and 15 million gallons industrial).
2. Use up directly or in secondary uses
about 19 million gallons per year.
3. Have available for external recycling,
almost all of which is actually being
recycled, about 5 million gallons per
year.
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TIPS STP’.RTED
OIL RECYCLING
P y name is _________ and I am an interviewer for Response Analysis Corporation
of Princeton, ew Jersey. We are working on a study about the use of oil in ser-
vice stations. About two billion gallons of oils and lubricants are used in
service stations each year. Given the eneroy problem in the United States today,
it is important to find out in as much detail as possible the use of all petroleum
products.
The Environmental Protection Açency of the United States Government is sponsorIng
an area—wide study in the Pittsburg area. Please be assured, however, that your
name and individu3l answers will be kept in strictest confidence by Response Anal-
ysis, and that only statistical compilations will be made available to the spon-
sers of this study.
1. To begin with, we would like to get some idea of the amount of oil that you
buy...
a. How meny gallons of oil can you store In
your station? _____________________
b. And how many gallons of oil do you order
each time you get a delivery? _____________________
C. And how often is oil delivered to you? _____________________
2. When you buy oil, is it always in quart cans ol QUARTS (GO TO Q.4)
or d you buy sote in gallons or in other ways? 2 GALLONS
3 OTHER -- SPECIFY:
L 3 _
3. Over the last year, what percent of the total
voluir.e of oil you have bought has been in cans,
other than quart cans?
k’
O-
%(
O.k.
27T
PERCEUT
4. Next, I would like to discuss some of the ways you sell oil...
a. First, what percent of the oil you sell is
added on right at the island? That is, to
mike up for oil that is burnt off?
b. And what percentaçje is used by you for
oil changes?
C. Are there any other ways in which you sell
oil? For instance, in bulk or in small
amounts for use outside the station?
d. Could you tell me about them, please?
ti ki
4LL 9t3
r 3\
7 t fl
c 4 /!Jr.
‘,
ijr
131 YES
2 MO (GO TO Q.5)
Lf 5 )
175
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5. About ho i many oil changes on cars and other
vehicles (such as a sno imobile) do you do
at this station? _________________________
INTERVJE ?ER NOTE: IF RESPO DEUT DOESN’T
KNOW, PROEE. IF RESPONDEUT GIVES A NU BER,
SUCH AS 2 OR 3, ASK IS THAT PER DAY, ETC.
PLEASE BE SURE TO NOTE BQIE( TUE t4U BER AND
THE TI E PERIOD. IF ZERO, GO TO Q.13.
6. Do you use a rolling storage tank when doing a. 1 YES
an oil change? 5 2 NO (Go TO Q.lO)
O- 1L ,s
7. What is the capacity of the rolling storage 6-jr
tank in gallons? i& - 6ALLo . C , ‘.c
8. How often do you empty the tank? 1 EVERY OIL CHANGE
‘o 2 EVERYDAY
3 WHENEVER IT IS FULL
4 OTHER -- SPECIFY:
ALL Ar f’i’ o i 1 ’,1 S
9. About how many gallons of oil do you empty
from the tank each time? _________________________
10. When you chanoe oil, how often do you change 34-i EVERY hUE
the oil filter? 2 EVERY OTHER TI
3 OTHER -— SPECIFY:
11. Aside from the oil filter, what do
you estirate is the average nu—ber of quarts
of oil you put into a car during an oil
change? ft-V ’I E vi 7 • ave
12. Again, aside from the oil filter, what do
you estirate is the averaae nwrber of quarts
of oil you take out of a car during an oil ‘ r C
change? 45 3g7 3 a1J r
13. Do you ever change oil on trucks? 1 YES
2 NO (GO TO Q.19)
DO (flO ( i 1 ’ - 6
14. About ho;, many truck oil changes do you do
per week? ___________________
15. Do you always change the truck’s oil filter? c 5 1 YES (GO TO Q.l9)
j3 2 NO
16. About what percentage of the time do you
change the oil filter on a truck? __________________
176
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17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
I IIO al/ flv— .
Aside from the oil in the filter, what
would you estimate is the average num-
ber of quarts of oil you put into a truck
during an oil change?
Aside from the oil in the filter, what
would you estimate is the average num-
ber of quarts of oil you take Out of a
truck during an oil change?
Do you ever take waste oil from individ- 5 1 YES
uals, for instance, oil they have drained 1,52 N .) (GO TO Q.22)
from a car or snowmobile themselves?
About how much waste oil do you take from
individuals (in gallons) per month?
Now I ’d like to talk for awhile about some other products, such as diesel
oil, greases, solvents and transmission fluids.
First, about how much do you buy a year wholesale of each of the following:
a. Solvents Ij 1.,5 ‘7 o l / r
b. Greases 3cD . i c £2( t r-
c. Transmission fluids ‘ 744 -3 riJ Lf
d. Brake fluids ‘1p nI ‘i r
e. Diesel oil 0
f. Antifreeze - J (, 17
Is there anything else of a similar type that you buy in quantities of fifty
gallons or more per year? Please describe them, and the amounts purchased
of each one:
177
-------
22. On the 0th
estimate t
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
er hand, how many gallons of each of these sane products would you
hat you remove from cars each n onth?
c&\j i C
Solvents j p
Greases
Transmission fluids 1 (9
Brake fluids L I
Diesel oil
Antifreeze
Others (mentioned in 21) (
23. Do you have any agreerents with any indus- (Dl YES
trial plants or others to store wastes they 2 UO (GO TO Q.25)
may develop?
24. Could you tell tie about them, especially the quantities involved?
25. What storage facilities do you have for waste 1O l WD€RGROUND TA lK
oil? 2 A8OVEGROU: D T K
3 3 UO E (GO TO Q.45)
4 OTHER ‘-— SPECIFY:
O- reo & r o. $ 7
26. How .tnany gallons is the capacity of the tank? a :tC.-.
CO i ’ o 4t..? g ov CS—
27. Of what material Is it made? 1 IRON OR STEEL
2 OThER f ETAL
3 FIBERGLASS
4 OTHER -- SPECIFY:
28. Do you happen to know how old the tank is? 3 ‘ i ’ ’q r-,r ts r ec i..t .4
jC,?T ,
29. Do you have ar y special storage facilities 3 1 YES
for waste products other than oil? 71 2 HO (GO TO Q.31)
178
-------
30. Could you describe them please?
31. a. What do you do with waste solvents and greases?
1 SAlT STORAGE TANK AS OIL ‘1 941 ( r- c. Iec re
2 STORAGE FACILITIES CESCRIBED IN Q.30 MOVE
i 3 NOT E;;OUGH TO MATTER
4 SOAK INTO kAGS, ETC. FOR DISPOSAL
Lj 5 DWP ON GROUND OR IN SEWER uaco1)ec+€i
6 OTHER -— SPECIFY: _________________________
b. What do you do with waste transmission and brake fluid?
514 1 SA T STORAGE TANK AS OIL 35 / jr. Colc-+ .c
2 STORAGE FACILITIES CESCRIBED IN Q.30 ABOVE
3 3 NOT ENOUGH TO MATTER
4 SOAK INTO RAGS. ETC. FOR DISPOSAL i j 3 aJ/ _
t#U,4I U(sV .* tip. Sn a,.
5 ( ‘ f i • ‘ r r’ . ‘ cr ‘ER
6 OTHER -— SPECIFY: _________________________
c. How about waste diesel oil?
L. 1 SN lE STORAGE TANK AS OIL
2 STORAGE FACILITIES CSCRIBED IN Q.30 ABOVE
j ,3 NOT ENOUGH TO MATTER
4 SOAK INTO RAGS, ETC. FOR DISPOSAL
5 DUMP ON GROUND OR IN SEWER
6 OTHER -— SPECIFY: __________________________
d. And finally, he .•i about used antifreeze?
3 1 SA STORAGE TANK AS OIL 3 1 r ck
2 STORAGE FACILITIES EESC IBED IN Q.30 P .BO.’E
i 3 NOT ENOUGH TO MATTER
4 SOAK INTO RAGS. ETC. FOR DISPOSAL
Qijc 1 -
c 4_ 5 DUMP ON GROIJND OR IN SEWER
.c 4
6 OTHER —— SPECIFY: ___________________________
179
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32. To change the subject slightly, about how often do you clean your
gasoline tanks? (PROBE: IF RESPONDENT SAYS SOt ETH1NG LIKE WHENEVER
THEY NEED IT ASK, Well about how often is that?)
1 WEEKLY
3 2 THLY
3 TWICE A YEAR
4 YEARLY
c.,5 OTHCR -- SPECIFY: ___________________
Le( 6 NEVER (GO TO Q.34)
33. Could you tell ire how you do it and what you do with the residue?
34. Altogether, about how many gallons of
wastes, including oil, wo 1d you estiirate LA)c’61 .
that you have a onth? I LO, t n’ 1I r,p $
35. Do you have so o regular provision for 1 / s ) K
picking up the ‘cu. tore? Fe’ 2 NO (GO TO Q.a5)
.1.
*IIJ Qti% ) f l . .S. ri.
regularly with a tank truck?
36. What is the method?
1 1 TRUCK
2 OTHER -- PROBE TO GET AS CO PLETE IUFORrATION AS POSSIBLE,
THEN SKIP TO Q. 6
0 ic 7S ’6 .‘
37. How often does the truck ccme around? U
38. Do you happen to know the name and address of the firm which does the
pick up? If so, what is it?
ADDRESS ___________________
180
-------
39. a. Do they charge you for pick up, or 1 1 QIARGED
do you get paid or is it simply free 32 PAID
pick up? 46 3 FREE (Go TO Q.40)
tORO rn cs p, ir
b. How much per gallon are you (charged/
paid)? ( ‘F f
c. About how much were you (charged/paid)
the last time your waste oil was
picked up? _______________________
(INTERVIEWER: ENCOURAGE RESPO 1DENT TO QIECK FIGURES IF HE INDICATES
HE i!OLJID LIKE TO)
GO TO Q.41.
40. About how many gallons do they pick up P< L’s)
each time? •.)c
41. Do you make provision for the pick up tl SE1F
yourself, or does __________________ 2 OIL CO PAUY
(NAt OF OIL CO PA Y) do it for you?
— -‘
42. How interested does ___________________ (NAME OF OIL CONPA Y) seem
to be in this probien ? iouid you say
10 1 very interested
‘ ‘ 2 somewhat interested
3 3 a little interested
4 4 not interested
43. Has there been any change in their 4 1 YES
interest in the past year? 1,5 2 NO (GO TO Q. 6)
L( LDi
44. in what way has there been a change? Please describe this change for me.
GO TO Q;46.
45. How do you dispose of your waste oil? (INTERVIEWER: IF RESPO D NT IS
HESITA4T OR NERVOUS, EMIMD HIM THAT THE INTERVIEW IS CONFIDENTIAL.)
46. Have there been any changes in your ( 1 YES
disposal procedures in the past year, -, 2 NO (GO TO Q.48)
including any changes in the cost to you?
181
-------
47. Could you describe these changes to me please?
48. Finally, I would like to ask you just a few background questions.
Is this station privately owned, or owned by ____________________
3 l PRIVATE
2 OIL CO PA Y ____________________________________
(NAME OF OIL COr.PAUY)
49. And about how many hours a week are you
open? ________________________
L/11D(. • “°
50. And about how many gallons of gas do you - /ti, O j7
ptm a week? o ,2 i
;cun , i J1 AIVe& , .
INTERVIEWER, CO •!PLElT THE FOLLOWING IHFOR TIC:: AFTC LEAVi G HE P Z SEZ.
51. TI INTERVIEW EtWED ___________________________
52. LENGTH OF INTERVIEW IN MINUTES __________________
53. RESPO;;DENT WAS 3 1 VERY K?:OWLEDa 3LE
36 2 SO: :HAT K C :LrDGABLE
3 NOT IO LED A Lt
5 o
54. RESPONDENT WAS 1 VERY COOPERATI ‘I’L
g’ 2 SO WHAT C0O ERATIVE
3 3 NOT COOPERXflVE
4 MTACOUISTIC
54. APPEARANCE OF SERVICE STATIC
CLEAN SERVICE BAYS
3’ ) ONLY St .ALL OIL SPOTS MD WASTE IN BAYS
____________ cONSIDERABLE oii SPOTS AND WASTE IN BAYS
_____________ FILTHY SERVICE AREA, LARGE A ’.31LNTS OF WASTE OIL AND OTHER
WASTE PRODUCTS
55. ANY APPEARANCE THAT OIL AND PETROLEU4 WASTE PRODUcTS ARE DISPOSED OF ON THE
PREMISE OF THE STATION OR ADJACENT TO IT?
I YES (EXPLAIN AND DESCRIBE EVIDENCE)
14 POSSIBLY
________ NO
182
-------
56. LOCATION OF SERVICE STATION
3 INNER-CITY, URBAN
I / CITY, BUSINESS DISTRICT
3 CITY, INDUSTRIAL AREA
/ . SUBURBAN, RESIDENTIAL AREA
3 5 SUBURBAN, BUSINESS/INDUSTRIAL AREA
_____________ SMALL TOWN OR VILLAGE
______________ RURAL-URBAN FRINGE
57. _____________ VERY BUSY INTERSECT ION
______________ INTERSECTION
41 3 ON A BUSY STREET
_____________ ON A QUIET STREET
_____________ ADJACENT TO TURNPIKE OR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY
58. STATION IS ADJACENT TO OR NEAR 1 E1 TY LOTS
2 STREAI4 OR CREEK
183
-------
APPENDIX D
SURVEY OF WASTE OIL COLLECTION AND PROCESSING
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WASTE OIL COllECTORS 185
Types and sizes of businesses
Sources of waste oil
How collected oil is disposed of
WASTE OIL PROCESSORS 200
Types and sizes of businesses
Fortns of treatment
Types of oil produced
Disposal of wastes
Pollution control practices (water, air)
National estimates of the waste oil industry
Validity of the national estimates
FuTURE INDUSTRY PROSPECTS 222
Trends foreseen by waste oil firms
Reasons for them
San le design
Interviewing experience
Questiorrnai re
184
-------
WASTE OIL COLLECTORS
• Types and sizes of businesses
• Sources of waste oil
• How collected oil is disposed of
185
-------
WASTE OIL COLLECTORS
THIS STUDY ENCOI ’PASSES BOTH WASTE OIL COLLECTORS M D COLLECTOR/PROCESSORS.
-. Collector/processors constitute more than one-third (39%)
of firms involved in collecting, storing and processing
waste oil (Table 1).
Later on we learn those finns Involved in processing feel
their business is increasing, while those only collecting
feel that their business is either declining or just not
expanding.
—- Most collectors who do not also process their own waste
oil have no storage facilities of their own. They coninonly
fill trucks to capacity and then transport the waste oil
directly to a processor or user.
186
-------
TABLE D-].
Types of Waste Oil Collectors
Q. 6: Do you have your own storage facilities for the oil you collect,
or do you only transport the oil to another waste oil collector
or processor?
Q. 9c: What do you do with the waste oil when you remove it from storage.
Do you take it to another collector or processor?
Q. 9e: What do you do with the waste oil when you remove it from storage.
Do you take It to your r,wn processing or rerefining plant?
Total — 100
Collectors
Take waste oil to others for storage 36
Have own storage facilities 1
but no processing facilities 25
Collector/Processors
Both collect and process waste oil 39*
*Although eight of the 39 collector/processors do not have any collection
capacity of their own, they do have a working relationship with collectors.
187
-------
SOURCES AND AMOUNTS OF WASTE OIL COLLECTED DIFFER GREATLY BETWEEN COLLECTORS
AND COLLECTOR/PROCESSORS.
—— While service stations/car dealers and industries are collectors’
most comon sources of oil, car and truck fleets, marine sources
and railroads are also significant. Nearly 60% of all oil they
collect comes from one source —- stations and dealers, as shown
In Table 2.
-— Five types of waste oil sources are found among 40% or more of
collector! processors, while only three of these are sources for
40% or more of the collectors.
—— One point of contrast involves collector-to-collector waste oil.
While only 13% of collectors get any waste oil from other collec-
tors (which represents only 2% of their total gallonage), 41% of
collector/processors get waste oil from other (presumably smaller)
collectors.
-— There are other differences as well. While only 10% of collectors
list pipelines as a source, more than one—third of collector/pro-
cessors list pipelines as a source. And somewhat higher percentages
of collector/processors use railroad, marine and oil spill sources.
188
-------
TABLE D—2
Amounts of Waste Oil Collected from Sources
(With Estimate of Total Waste Oil Collected)
Q. 4: We would like to know what types of businesses you collect
waste oil roni. Do you collect waste oil from ( TYPE OF
BUSINESS) ? IF YES -- How many gallons oer month do you
collect from ( TYPE OF BUSINESS)?
Collectors Collector/Processors
Sources % Who Gallons 4 % Who Gallons
Collect Month Collect Month
(6l (I ,62l,000) (39) (16,172,300)
Service stations and
new car dealers 58% 18
Pipelines 10% * 38% 8
Car or truck fleets 8 4
Railroaos 28% 4 36% 1
Marine sources 36% 2 6
•Industrial users 26 39
Other waste il
collectors 13% 2 23
Oil spills 7% * 10% *
Other’ -- 13% *
*Less than .5%
1 Totai gallons reported was 3,531,000 gallons month. The sources of
only 1 ,521 ,000 gallons/month could be broken down.
2 Total gallons reported collected was l9,i 4,3OJ gallons/month. The
sources of only 16,172,000 gallons/month could be broken down.
3 Such as; fire department, oil company, airlines, foundries.
189
-------
COLLECTOR/PROCESSORS OPERATE MUCH LARGER-SCALE COLLECTION BUSINESSES ThM
COLLECTORS DO.
Collector/processors, on the average, maintain larger fleets of trucks.
—— Nearly 40% of all collectors have only one truck, and less
than half of collectors have two or more trucks (Table 3).
—- The average number of trucks per collector is three.
-— By contrast, 41% of collector/processors have five or more
trucks, and no collector/processors have only a single truck,
although 2l rely entirely on outside contractors for their
oil collecting. The average number of trucks per firm is
seven.
The same trend is also seen in data measuring total truck capacity of
firms from the two groups.
—— Nearly 60% of all collectors have a total truck capacity
of 5,000 gallons or less. Only 13% of collectors have
capacity exceeding 10,000 gallons.
—— Again, the collector/processors are much greater in their
collection capacity. Only lO have total truck capacity
of 5,000 gallons or less (none have less than 2,500), and
more than 50% have a total truck capacity exceeding 10,000
gallons.
The average collector/processor, then, has more trucks and more truck
collection capacity (in gallons) than does the average collector.
190
-------
TABLE D-3
Trucks and Truck Capacity
Q. 3: How many trucks do you use to collect waste oil and how many
gallons does each truck hold?
Number of Collector,’
Trucks Collectors (61) Processors (39 )
5ormore 21%
3 -4 23 28
2 18 10
I
0 211
Average nurrber of
trucks per firm 3 7
Total Capacity Trucks Gallons
‘ of Trucks C/P*(31) Collectors (61) JP* Collectors
(In thousands (957,000) (469,000)
of gallons)
Over 20 23% 74% 45%
15.1 - 20 13 8
10.1-15 19 5 8 8
5.1 - 10 35 30 9 30
2.5-5 10 21 1 9
Under 2.5 36 9
*C/P denotes Collector/Processors.
1 Although eight of the 39 collector/processors do not have any collection
capacity of their own, they do have a working relationship with collectors.
191
-------
MOST COLLECTORS AND COLLECTOR/PROCESSORS PICK UP WASTE OIL FROM SOURCES
WITHIN 100 MILES OF THEIR PLACE OF BUSINESS.
Widest ranging collector/processors usually exceed a collection range
of 200 miles while widest ranging collectors cover 100 - 200 miles
range.
-— 64% of all collectors pick up waste oil at distances of from
26 to 100 miles from their place of business: one-third pick
up oil at distances exceeding 100 miles. (Table 4)
—— 51% of collector/processors pick up waste oil at distances of
from 26 to 100 rnfles; 41% from distances exceeding 100 miles.
At collection ranges over 100 miles differences between the two groups
appear, While collectors and collector/processors differ greatly in
their scales of operations, such as number and capacity of trucks and
breadth of sources, only minor differences exist in area range they
collect from.
192
-------
TABLE D—4
Collection Radius
Q. 1: What approximate radius, in miles, does your ftrm collect oil in?
Collectors (61 )
Percent of firms who collect
in each radius zone.
Collector/P races so rs 39 )
Percent of firms who collect
in each radius zone.
200
193
-------
WASTE OIL COLLECTORS OPERATE MAINLY INTRA-STATE -- COLLECTOR/PROCESSORS
TEND TO COLLECT 4JLTI-STATE.
—— About two-thirds of all collectors offer intra—state
collection only, and only 3% collect waste oil from
five or more states (Table 5).
-- Of those collector/processors with their own trucks,
more than three-quarters of them collect in three or
more states.
As In the cases of other indices, collector/processors run larger collection
services than do collectors. Collector/processors, on the average, collect
waste oil from more states than do collectors -— a statistic that also corre-
lates with the greater number of trucks and truck capacities which the collec-
tors/processors have.
194
-------
TABLE D—5
Intra-and Inter-State Collection
Q. 2: Please tell me the names of the states in which ,you collect waste
oil.
Collectors (61) Collector/Processors (31 )*
Collect in 5 or more states 3%
3 or 4 states 15 32
2 states 18 13
Intra-state collection only 64 6
*AIthough eight of the 39 collector/PrOCeSS0rS do not have any collection
capacity of their own, they do have a working relationshiP with collectors.
195
-------
MOST OF THE STORAGE FACILITIES OF WASTE OIL COLLECTORS WHO HAVE THEM, HOLD
LESS THAN 500,000 GALLONS OR LESS CAPACITY.
—- 72% of all collectors with storage have a total storage capa-
city of 500,000 or less gallons and 4% have capacity of more
than 1.5 million gallons (Table 6).
—- Storage facilities of collector/processors are somewhat larger
as would be expected considering their greater need for storage
tanks. One-third have storage capacity exceeding one million
gallons, although nearly half of all collector/processors store
500,000 gallons or less.
—- While a small proportion of collector/processors refused to
give out any data on their storage capacities, no collectors
refused to supply this data.
196
-------
TABLE D—6
Storage Facilities of Collectors
Q. 8: What is the total capacity of your storage facilities in gallons?
Total Capacity of Storage Collectors with Collector!
Facilities (in gallons) Storage (25) Processors (3 j
Over 1,500,000 4% 13%
1,000,001 - 1,500,000 -— 18
500,001 - 1,000,000 24 15
2,001 - 500,000 72 49
Under 2,000
Refused 5
197
-------
NOT ALL STORED WASTE OIL IS PROCESSED OR REREFINED -- SEVERAL ALTE 1ATIVE
USES ARE FOUND FOR IT, PARTICULARLY BY COLLECTORS.
Although a majority of collectors do transport some of their waste oil to other
collectors or processors, much of the waste oil is disposed of in other ways.
Co.m ents of collectors indicate that alternative uses become feasible if:
(1) Suitable economic incentives are available from alternative
uses.
(2) Transporting waste oil to other collection or processing
facilities is particularly time consuming and expensive.
—— Collectors sometimes use their waste oil for road oil or
dust control, even though several states now have outlawed
this practice (Table 7).
—— Half of collectors also use waste oil as fuel, while only
16% use a settling tank without any further treatment.
—- Out of all the waste oil picked up by collectors, though,
45% is usually taken to another collector or processor
—- 29% is used for fuel and another 22% is used for road
oil or dust control.
A clear implication emerges —— most of the waste oil which is eventually
processed and/or refined is oil which is collected by collector/pro-
cessors and not by collectors.
-- A far smaller percentage of collector/processors use their
waste oil for non—processed applications. Only 36% use any
of their oil for fuel, representing only 7% of total oil
gallonage and only 21% of the firms use their waste oil for
road oil or dust control.
—— In addition, only 3% of collector/processors use waste oil
as motoroll.
198
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TABLE D-7
Uses of Stored Waste Oil, in Gallonage
Q. 9: What do you do with the waste oil when you ren ve it from storage?
First, do you use it for road oil or dust control?
Q. 10: How many gallons per year do you (USE)?
Collectors wi thStorage Collector/Processors
%Who %Who
Use Gallons/Year Use Gallons/Year
(25) (3,106,000) (39) (5 1,480,000)*
Use for road oil or dust
control 22% 1%
Use for fuel 48% 29 36% 7
Take to another collector or
processor 56% 45 8%
Put in settling tank -—
that is settling without any
other treatment 16% 15% 2
.Take to your own processing
or rerefining plant 100% 88
Use for motoroil 3% 2
Other 12% 3 10%
*Ir this table, as in similar tables, gallonage bases are often smaller than
percent-of—user bases. Many waste oil firms are sure of techniques and pro—
ducts used, but are unsure or unwilling to supply figures related to amounts.
199
-------
WASTE OIL PROCESSORS
• Types and sizes of businesses
• Forms of treatment
• Types of oil produced
• Disposal of wastes
• Pollution control practices (water, air)
• National estimates of the waste oil industry
• Validity Gf the national estimates
200
-------
WASTE OIL PROCESSORS
MOST WASTE OIL PROCESSORS ARE ALSO WASTE OIL COLLECTORS.
-- Of the processors studies, 79% collect as well as process
waste oil (Table 8).
—— Most processors who only process and do not collect, mentioned
that they use the services of many collectors and that most
of these are small collection firms, with only one or perhaps
a few trucks.
201
-------
TABLE D—8
Types of Waste Oil Processors
Processors (39 )
Process oil but do not
collect 21%*
Both collect and process
waste oil 79%
*Although eight of the 39 collector/processors do not have any collection
capacity of their own, they do have a working relationship with collectors.
202
-------
WASTE OIL PROCESSORS DURING 1973 PROCESSED MORE THAN ONE MILLION GALLONS
OF WASTE OIL.
—- Forty-nine percent processed between one and 24 million
gallons during 1973 (Table 9).
—— Nearly one-third of all processors either refused to give
out their 1973 processing figures or maintained they
could not give an accurate figure. This question prompted
a very large refusal rate.
203
-------
TABLE D—9
Amount of Waste Oil Processed in 1973
Q. 12: How much waste oil would you estimate you processed in your
facilities in 1973?
Estimated Amount of Waste Oil
Processed in 1973 (in gallons) Processors (39 )
Over 24,000,000 3%
18,000,001 - 24,000,000
6,000,001 - 18,000,000 8
1,000,001 - 6,000,000 38
25,000 - 1,000,000 21
Under 25,000 3
Don’t know 21
Refused 8
204
-------
THE AVERAGE PROCESSING CAPACITY AMONG PROCESSORS IS APPROXIMATELY
THREE MILLION GALLONS OF WASTE OIL PER YEAR.
-- One-third of al
capacity in the
three-quarters
between 25,000
1 processors have a total annual processing
one—to-six million gallon range. More than
of all processors have an annual capacity
and 24 million gallons (Table 10).
- — Fewer processors refused to provide capacity information than
actual 1973 gallonage, but still 13% refused to give this
information, or said they did not know their processing capac-
i ty.
205
-------
TABLE D—1O
Total Processing Capacity
Q. 11: What is the total capacity of your processing facilities in
gallons per year?
Total Capacity of Processing
Facilities (in gallons/year) Processors (39 )
Over 24,000,000 8%
18,000,001 - 24,000,000 8
6,000,001 - 18,000,000 13
1,000,001 - 6,000,000 31
25,000 - 1,000,000 26
Under 25,000 3
Don’t Know 5
Refused 8
206
-------
MANY PROCESSORS APPEAR TO BE UTILIZING THEIR PROCESSING FACILITIES AT
90% OF CAPACITY OR BETTER.
—- Actual processing in 1973 related to total processing
capacity could not be coniputed for one-third of the pro-
cessors in cases whether either of the two figures were
refused (Table 11).
- - However, two in five are running their processing facili-
ties at 90% or more of total capacity.
207
-------
TABLE D—1].
Estimated Processing (1973) Related to Total Processing Capacity
Q. 11: What is the total capacity of your processing facilities in
gallons per year?
Q. 12: How much waste oil would you estimate you processed in your
facilities in 1973?
Percent of Capacity Processors (39 )
90% or more 38%
75 - 89
50-74 5
25-49 13
Under 25 13
Not computable 31
*These figures were con uted by dividing the mean within a total
capacity range by the mean within the 1973 processing range. For
this reason percentages-of-capacity figures are subject to some
variation.
208
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FILTRATION, SETTLING TANK, CLAY, DISTILLATION BATCH AND ACID ARE THE
MOST COMMON OF ELEVEN TYPES OF WASTE OIL TREATMENT.
Of eleven types of waste oil treatment asked about specifically, each
is used by at least 10% of the processors (Table 12).
—- In proportion to overall waste oil processed, filtration
technique leads (16%), followed closely by acid and clay
methods (each 15%), and flash drying and distillation batch
(each 14% of total processing).
—— These treatments are used by 40% or more of the processors:
• 69% Filtration
• 56% Settling Tank
• 46% Clay
• 44% Acid
• 44% Distillation Batch
209
-------
TABLE 0—12
Processing Treatments Used
Q. 13: 1 am going to read you a list of processing methods. For each
one could you please tell me whether or not you use this type
of processing?
Q. 14: About how many gallons did you process using ( TREATMENT ) during
1973?
Processors
Gallons Processed
Treatments Percent Who Use in 1973
(39) - (125,575,000)
Filtration 69% 16%
Settling tank 56% 12
Clay treatment 46% 15
Acid treatment 44% 15
Distillation batch method 44% 14
Caustic treatment 26% 5
Chemical treatment 23% 10
Flash drying 23% 14
Centrifuge 18% *
Silicate treatment 10%
Continuous vacuum
distillation 10% *
Other methods 1 13% *
*Less than .5%
1 Such as: deep injection well, steam Incinerate.
210
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WHILE MOST PROCESSORS CAN NAME ThE TYPES OF OILS THEY PRODUCE, VERY FEW
HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE NUMBER. OF GALLONS OF EACH THEY ACTUALLY PRODUCE.
—- #4 or #5 fuel oil, lube and road oils are the principal
products of waste oil processors. Although other types of
oil products are produced by fewer processors, all types
are produced by at least 12% of the processors (Table 13).
-— Eighteen processors either refused to supply gallonage
figures for each product they produce, or stated that they
had no records available. Several other processors were
able to supply gallonage figures for only a few of the
products they produce.
211
-------
TABLE D—13
Types of Processed Oils Produced
Q. 15: Next, I am going to read you a list of products. Please tell
me whether or not you produce each type. First, take #2 fuel
oil, do you produce #2 fuel oil?
Q. 16: How many gallons of ( PRODUCfl did you produce in 1973?
Processors
Gallons Produced
Oils Produced Percent L4ho Produce in 1973
(39) -- (5O,942,OOO) Z
#4 or #5 fuel oil 59% 29%
Lube oils 49% 39
Road oils 41% 7
#2 fuel oil 33% 3
Process oil 26% 8
Journal box oil 21% 4
#6 fuel oil 18% 7
Asphalt flux 13% 1
Farm oil 13% *
Other methods 1 18% 2
*Less than .5%
1 Such as: rerefined oil mix with crude, grinding oil, edible,
and burn it.
2 The base for this question is 21, as 18 out of 39 processors
did not supply the relevant data.
212
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MOST PROCESSORS DISPOSE OF WASTE MATERIALS BY DUMPING THEM IN A LAND FILL.
—— The only disposal method used by more than one-fourth of
processors is dumping wastes into land fills -- and just
over half of all processors say they use this single tech-
nique (Table 14).
—— Only two processors dispose of wastes by injection into a
deepwell, but this represents their only disposal technique
and the gallonage is considerable on an annual basis.
—- Of those processors who rely on biological treatment, nearly
twice as many utilize public treatment rather than their own
private biological facilities. Burning of wastes is also
used by 23% of processors.
213
-------
TABLE D—14
Methods of Disposing of Processing Wastes
Q. 17: How do you dispose of wastes, such as tank bottom, acid or
caustic sludge, spent clay or distillation residue that
develop in the course of processing?
Processors
Method Who Use (39 )
Dump it in a land fill 56%
Use a public biological treatment 23%
Burn it 23%
Use your own biological treatment 13%
Dump it in a deepwell 5%
Dun it in the ocean
Other methods 1 23%
1 Such as: road oiling, take to special processor, give it to a trucking
firm, sold for dust control, sell it, disposal service.
214
-------
OIL-WATER SEPARATION AND SKIMMING ARE THE MAJOR FORMS OF WASTE WATER TREAT-
MENT USED BY PROCESSORS.
-— Both oil-water separation and skiming are used by half of
those processors questioned (Table 15).
—— Emulsion breaking, filters, biological treatment, and other
methods (including silica sand, amonia, and acid treat-
ment) are each also used by at least 20% or more of the
processors.
-- Many processors did not reply to this question and others
were defensive. Several qualified their replies by outlin-
ing the regulations of their state pollution agencies.
Three processors even stated that no waste water pollution
was possible from their operation and that, for this reason,
they perceived no rationale for fo11 ing j y protective
course of action.
215
-------
TABLE D—15
Waste Water Treatment Methods
Q. 18: What about waste water treatment?
Processors
Method Who Use (39 )
Oil-water- separation 49%
Skimming 46%
Filters 36%
Emulsion breaking 23%
Biological treatment, such as
trickling filter or activated
sludge 21%
Centrifuge 13%
Activated carbon 5%
Other methods 1 21%
No answer 2 15%
Refused 5%
1 Such as: ammonia, take to special processor, silica sand, acid treat-
ment.
2 Three of these six processors insisted their industry causes no water
pollution and do not, therefore, use any waste water treatment method.
216
-------
PROCESSORS WERE EVEN MORE DEFENSIVE WHEN ASKED TO DESCRIBE THEIR AIR
POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEMS.
—— Scrubbing (33%) and incineration (33%) are the major forms
of air pollution control utilized by waste oil processors
(Table 16).
—— Other methods are seldom used. Those in the ‘other category
(10%) include: ammonia, wet scrubbing, coils, complete air-
pollution enclosures.
- — More than one—third of all processors asked this question
either did not answer or stated that they use no air pollu-
tion control techniques. Again defensive on this topic,
seven processors stated that their type of business creates
no form of air pollution and that, therefore, no control
methods are in fact needed.
217
-------
TABLE D-16
Methods of Air Pollution Control
Q. 19: What about air pollution control?
Processors
Form of Control Who Use (39 )
Scrubbing 33%
Incineration 33%
Bag fIlters 5%
Electro-static precipitator ——
Other methods 1 10%
No answer 2 38%
1 Such as: amonia, wet scrubbing , coils, complete air pollution
enclosure.
seven of the fifteen processors insisted their industry causes
no air pollution, therefore no controls are needed.
218
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COMPUTATION AND VALIDITY OF THE NATIONAL ESTIMATES
On Table 17 are our national estimates of the waste oil industry, on several
important dimensions. Although each has been arrived at by means of an ob-
jective statistical procedure, the reader should keep in mind various factors
affecting the national estimates.
All estimates are based on the data we collected for waste oil firms within
our national probability sample areas. The information from these 103 areas
was weighted up to represent a national estimate. While the Response
Analysis probability sample is based on demographic statistics from the 1970
Census, the waste oil industry nay not totally coincide geographically with
overall population distributions, although our sample is drawn heavily from
urban areas where waste oil firms seem to locate.
Data were weighted in other ways as well. Although Response Analysis devel-
oped lists of waste oil firms from telephone yellow page directories, many
firms may not have phone listings and directories are only published annually.
For this reason, we weighted up the number of firms on the basis of additional
names we got from the licensing agencies of three states - - Massachusetts,
Texas and Maryland.* We also weighted the estimates to account for differences
among the areas which each sample area represents and also to account for
different completion rates among the respondents contacted in each area.
These weighting systems are explained in detail in the Appendix.
The reader should also bear in mind that only a small number of firms agreed
to participate -- 61 collectors and 39 collector/processors, and that the
validity of national estimates based on this small number of cases is reduced.
The reader should also realize that the validity will decrease with time. As
stated earlier, the waste oil industry is affected by many external factors,
and many changes and fluctuations are probable in the future. While our na-
tional estimates may be valid for a short period of time, no projection of
their accuracy can be stated for extended periods of time.
National estimates of amount of oil processed in 1973 and the capacity of
processing facilities were computed in terms of ranges, although we also
compute a median “best estimate.” In each case, we multiplied the estimated
number of firms of a certain size or capacity times the minimum and maximum
production or capacity figures within that firm’s answer category. Data for
all firms were then summed to provide the estimated total minimum and maximum
figures. We then computed the median of the two figures as the best overall
estimate. The final mean estimates are calculated to the nearest one thou-
sand gallons. In the case of unbounded answer categories (“over 24 million”
and “under 25,000”), we used the anchor figure for one extreme and a figure
of plus-or-minus 10% as the other extreme figure for the answer category.
*We were only able to calibrate the differences between the phone list and
state license lists for these three states. This weight was then applied
to all states. Massachusetts officials were able to supply us with the
names of 17 additional waste oil firms -- Texas supplied seven more, and
Maryland supplied only one.
219
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TABLE D—17
NATIONAL ESTIMATES OF THE WASTE OIL INDUSTRY
Ni er of CollectorS 260
N er of Collector/Processors 163
Gallons Collected Per P’onth 136,681.925
w t Processed During 1973 (in gallons)
(STIMATU) NLI ER
OF FIRMS MINIU SUB-TOTALS W .XflUt SUB-TOTALS
Over 24,000,000 8 24.000.001 192,000,000 26.400,000 211,200,000
18.000 ,000 - 24.000.000 0 18.000.001 W3ME 24.000.000 hONE
6.000.001 - 18,000.000 15 6,000,001 90.000.000 18,000,000 270.000,000
1,000.001 - 6.000,000 1.000.001 86,000,000 6,000.000 516,000.000
25 .000 - 1,000,000 45 25.000 1,125,000 1,000,000 45,000,000
der 25,000 9 22,500 202,500 24.999 224,991
$1*IPUI TOTAL 369.327,000 MAX1NWI TOTAL • I ,042,425 ,000
I(DIAII E.STIIIAT( • 705,877,000
CapacIty of Processing facilIties (in gallons)
Over 24,000,000 13 24,000,001 312,000,000 26,400,000 343,200,000
18,000.001 - 24,000,000 1 1 18,000.001 198,000,000 24,000.000 264,000,000
6.000.001 - 18.000.000 16 6,000.001 96.000.000 18,000,000 288,000,000
1,000,001 - 6,000,000 82 1,000.001 82,000,000 6,000,000 492,000,000
25.000 - 1,000.000 34 25,000 850.000 1.000,000 34.000,000
I.Mder 25.000 7 22 ,500 157,500 24,999 174.993
MINDJI TOTAL • 689,008,000 MXIIILI4 TOTAL • 1,421,375,000
COIM ESTIMATE • l .0S5.192.
220
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In making a national estimate of the amount of waste oil processed during
1973, the following method of computation was used:
-- We first estimated the number of firms in each size category.
The number of firms in each category from our sample was
weighted up to a national estimate of firms.
-- For each processing category, the estimated number of firms was
multiplied times both the minimum and maximum processing
figures for that category. For instance -- we estimate there
are eight firms which processed more than 24,000,000 gallons of
waste oil during 1973. Eight was then multiplied times 24,000,001
gallons (the minimal figure for the category) and T o times
26,400,000 (24,000,000 plus l0 ) for the maximum amount.
-- We then summed total estimated minimum and maximum production
for 1973. We then took the median of these two figures as our
best estimate of waste oil processed during 1973.
The same method of computation was also used in estimating national waste
oil processing capacity.
22].
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FUTURE INDUSTRY PROSPECTS
• Trends foreseen by waste oil firms
• Reasons for them
222
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FUTURE INDUSTRY PROSPECTS
Collectors and collector/processors were asked at the conclusion of the
interviews to discuss the growth or decline of their business, to specu-
late on the causes of the growth or decline, and to predict future trends
fn the industry.
Growth and Decline in the Waste Oil Industry
Half of all collectors (49%) feel there has been no change recently in
their business, while nearly one-third (28%) feel their business has ac-
tually been declining.
By contrast, two-thirds (67%) of collector/processors say they have
growing businesses, and only one in five (21%) report declining business.
Thus, market share within the waste oil industry is changing. Most col-
lector/processors are growing, at the expense of collectors who are expe-
riencing either no growth or actual decline.
TABLE rY—18
Q. 20: During the last year or so has your business been growing, declining,
or has there been no major change in your size?
Collectors (61) Collector/Processors (39 )
Growing 23% 67%
Declining 28 21
No change 49 13
The vefbatim comments of company spokesmen were recorded. Although these
coments are provocative, and illustrative of trends in the waste oil in-
dustry, they were elicited from unstructured questions and have not been
quantified to statistically represent the entire universe of waste oil
collectors and collector/processors. The verbatim comments, grouped typi-
cally, are presented on pages 46, 47 and 48.
223
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COLLECTORS VERSUS COLLECTOR/PROCESSORS: THE ISSUES ARE THE SAME BUT PER-
SPECTIVES ARE DIFFERENT.
Company spokesmen consistently mentioned the same five central issues facing
their industry: the energy crisis, environmental pollution and governmental
regulations, changes in equipment and technology, internal business factors,
and the competition between collectors and collector/processors.
But in terms of viewpoint, collectors and collector/processors differ greatly.
While most collector/processors feel their businesses are growing and see
continued future growth, a majority of the collectors say they are experiencing
a decline or period of no growth in their businesses, and they foresee a con-
tinued decline for their sector.
The two groups also differ oi their viewpoints on specific industry issues,
particularly in reference to the energy crisis and environmental pollution
and governmental regulation.
224
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We enclose the verbatim comments of industry spokesmen to document the five
key industry issues and trends.
1. The Energy Crisis
It appears that all firms are well aware of some of the impact
the oil shortage has had on their industry. But while coUec-
tor/processors see the oil shortage as a positive !growthh force
on their business, many collectors have been seriously hurt by
the shortage. This seems entirely consistent with data pre-
viously discussed -- collectors depend on crankcase oil as their
major source, while collector/processors have a much wider col-
lection base.
Business growing
Due to the shortage of crude oil, many of our customers who
are unable to get new lube oil now buy it from us, whereas
they dithi’t before. (C/P)*
Business picked up after the energy crisis. Before, we
coulàz’t get any money for fuel oil, hut now, with the big
demand for fuel oil, we get more money. (c/P)
Business will, continue to grow as long as the energy crisis
exvsts. You can’t sell recycled oil when new is available.
So, if the crisis exists, we will grow. (c/P)
The supply of used motor oil will decline, but I think that
this will be offset by the use of rerefined oil. I look
for a goad future in sales. I an very optimistic. (C/P)
Business declining
It is the gas shortage. It has depleted our income. There
is no longer such a thing as waste oil. Without that we
c j.nnot run a business. (C)**
In the last two years there has been pretty much the sane
pattern of people changing their oil. We have lost some of
the service station clients in the city, but we have gotten
new accounts at the newer suburban-type garages. The last
few years, overoll, have been down from five to ten years
ago -- people go longer bei’ een oil changes. (C)
*C/P denotes Collector/Processor.
** denotes Collector.
225
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2. Concern Over Environmental Pollution and the Proliferation
of Governmental Regulations Covering the Waste Oil rndustry .
Many industry spokesmen have seen basic changes in their collec-
tion and processing methods. Many others are bothered by the
increased role of government in overseeing and regulating their
industry.
Business growing
We cooperate with the environmental, people rather than fight
them. We are not scavengers looking for business. (C/P)
People are more are that reclamation exists. There is a lot
of economic incentive. Ecolo j and economy are big words. (C/P)
Great future, depending on rules and regulations and the finan-
cial tax incentive. (C)
Business declining
Because of the new off-the-road tax, and because of labeling. (c/P)
I don’t see a bright future; the oil crisis is going to change
a lot of things. The ingenuity of the gover vnent will make the
whole situation very competitive, hurting the small businesses. (C)
It all depends on Uncle Scvn. The biggest problem is disposing of
waste. If the County stops us from dwvrping where we do now, we
will be out of business. (C/P)
3. New Equipment and Technologies in the Waste Oil Industry .
Business growing
Good. It is a small company, but I feel with the new processes
being developed, we have no place to go but ahead. (C/P)
Great future in the recovery of waste oil as lubricating oil. (C/P)
An ecx,nomicxzl method to make fuel oil is now available. People
can’t take to landfill anymere. (CIP)
New processes such as regeneration of acid -- an excellent n
process. (C/P)
We have a vacuz n truck, which is fairly unknown in the northwest,
and once people become mere oware of its capabilities, we see our
business growing. (C)
Business declining
We are running out of Landfills. It is getting too costly to
dispose of the materials in the landfills. (C/P)
226
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4. Internal Business Practices and Factors .
Business growing
Effective manager and the new owner. (C/P)
Service -- our business is growing because we give better
service. (C)
Bexzuse I hustle for my business; I don ‘t sit back and wait
for it to come to mo. I go get new business all the time. (C)
We work harder. (C)
We do ver j good work; we grew three times as much. We are
building, buying more equipment and hiring more people. (C)
5. Competition between Collectors and Collector/Processors .
Spokesmen’s comments also reveal that a further dimension exists,
reflected in the collector-collector/processor dichotomy. This
dimension is big business versus the small business. While
most collector/processors maintain larger-scale operations with
more capital to invest in new equipment, most collectors main-
tain much smaller businesses and are less well—equiped to meet
Increasing competition within the waste oil industry.
Business declining
It is going to get tough; less oil and more people out to
get it. (C)
Business should grow, but the smaller guys will drop out.
The energy crisis has helped waste oil products and dealers,
but a gw ’ needs a bigger capacity and more clients in the
ft ture. (C)
Conrpe titive government refineries that have put more co 1 lectors
on the street. They borrowed money from the government to in-
crease their business, and now they have more collectors out,
which is affecting my business. (C)
227
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METHODOLOGY
• Sample design
• Interviewing experience
• Questionnaire
228
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SAMPLE DESIGN
The sample for this study was drawn from the hundreds of waste oil
collectors and processors in the coterminous United States.
No complete list of all waste oil collectors and/or processors exists
froniwhich the sample could be drawn. Only a few states require this
type of business to have permits. And no federal registration is re-
quired. Therefore, our job was to compile a list of these businesses
from which to sample.
The sequence of steps used in the development of the sample included:
• Selection 0 f a national sample of 103 primary areas,
counties or groups of counties, stratified by geographic
region, type of community and other population characteristics.
• Obtaining all yellow pages telephone directories in all of the
counties in the 103 primary areas.
• Compiling a list of all waste oil handlers that are listed in
the yellow pages directories.
Several steps were taken to supplement this list of waste oil businesses
which are as follows:
• Contacting individuals in and/or involved in some aspect of
the waste oil business to obtain additional information.
• Writing to all the members of the Association of Petroleum
Rerefiners to obtain additional names.
• Asking each interviewed firm in the process of interviewing
to give additional names.
• Obtaining the state lists of waste oil handlers from the
Water Quality Resources Offices of Texas, Massachusetts and
Maryland.
Details on each of these steps is provided in the following sections.
229
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Selection of Sample Areas for National Sample
Primary areas were selected as follows:
The entire area of the coterminous United States was first divided into
approximately 1,140 primary sampling units (PSU’s). Each PSU is a well
defined geographic unit, usually a county or a group of counties with a
minimum population of 50,000 in 1970. PSU’s are of two general types:
(1) metropolitan areas, or parts of metropolitan areas; and (2) other
areas.
Thirty-eight large PSIJ ’s were included in the sample as self-representing
primary areas. These include the 25 largest metropolitan areas in the
United States.
All other PSU’s were grouped into 65 strata, with an average stratum
population of approximately 2,000,000 persons in 1970. Basic criteria
used In the stratification procedure were:
• Geographic division (within a stratum all PSU’s are in the
same Census geographic division).
• Metropolitan or nonmetropolitan character (with the excep-
tion of a few counties, strata consist entirely of metro-
politan areas or entirely of other counties).
These two stratification features are employed in regional and corTununity—
size analysis.
Additional stratification criteria included population density, rate of
population growth, and industrial characteristics.
One PSU was selected with probability proportionate to population size
from each of the 65 strata that included two or more PSU’s.
Each of the 103 primary areas (38 selected as self-representing areas,
plus 65 selected as a result of the stratification procedure) is a rela-
tively heterogeneous area. Most include city, town suburban and rural
residents. Some are primarily small towns and rural, but are several counties
in size.
230
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Compiling a List From the Yellow Pages Directories
Yellow pages directories were obtained for all counties in the 103 PSU’s.
To compile a list of names, several headings in each directory were re-
ferred to and names in each section were recorded. Those headings are as
follows:
Oils - waste
Waste - oil
Waste reduction & disposal service - industrial
Tank cleaning
Ecological conservation
Every name and telephone number was reviewed and compared with others in
each primary sampling unit and any duplicates were removed. Also, each ad-
dress was checked to make sure that the waste oil firm physically was located
in a sample county. This was done because in many cases yellow page direc-
tories cover wider areas than do the white pages.
Individuals Contacted to Obtain Additional Information
Individuals in the waste oil business and individuals who have dones studies
of the waste oil business were contacted to try to supplement the list of
waste oil collectors and/or processors from the yellow pages directories.
Those contacted were:
Several processors in the New Jersey and Pennsylvania areas to
ascertain registration requirements or practices of collectors
and processors with government agencies or with associations.
We found no association exists for this particular group. Regis-
tration is required in some states, but not all.
The U. S. Department of Interior, Bureau of Mines, who sent us a
copy of their study on waste oil recycling. From this a compre-
hensive list of rerefiners and contact names of people knowledge-
able about waste oil was made available.
Messrs. Richard Finocchi and John Williams of Resource Planning
Associates in Cambridge, Massachusetts, have done several studies
on waste oil and told us which states require registration and
permits and from which state office permits are obtained.
Contacting Members of Association of Petroleum Rerefiners
Response Analysis sent letters to the 45 names of commercial rerefiners on
the list received from the Bureau of Mines. This letter asked for their
help in building Response Analysis’ industrial sample by providing us with
names of waste oil processors and collectors. Five of those letters were
returned because the company was no longer in business. Of those forms
returned completed, 22 names were given. These names were checked against
the list and any additional names were added.
231
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Obtaining Lists From State Governments
From the Water Quality Control Offices of Texas, Maryland and Massachusetts
the lists of registered waste oil handlers were requested.
These lists served two functions. The first was to provide additional names
for the locations that are in these states. The second and more important
function was to compare the state lists of names with the yellow pages di-
rectc ry list of names. By doing this, locations could be weighted up in the
national projections to compensate for the differences between the two
Waste Oil Sample Weighting
In developing the national projections, three weight factors were applied to
the data:
1. A weight factor equal to the reciprocal of the probability of selec
tion of each PSU from its stratum. For self-representing PSU’s (the
top twenty-five metropolitan areas) this weight factor was 1. For
smaller metropolitan areas and nonmetropolitan PSU’s the weight
factors were higher.
2. A weight factor to adjust for the fact that some eligible respon-
dents refused to be interviewed or were unavailable after several
calls. This weight factor was computed separately for each PSU and
was equal to the number of eligible respondents divided by the number
of completed interviews in that PSU.
3. A third weight factor to compensate for the fact that some collectors
and processors were not listed in the yellow pages. Complete list-
ings of collectors and processors were obtained for three states.
These listings were compared with the yellow page listings for those
states. Based on that comparison, a weight factor of 1.71 was ap-
plied to all interviews to adjust for unlisted collectors and pro-
.essors.
The final weight factor used for each interview was the product of the above
three weight factors.
232
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INTERVIEWING EXPERIENCE
Interviewing was done by a WATS telephone interviewing service, Each in-
terviewer who worked on the study was briefed on the questionnaire. Inter-
viewers were instructed on the difficulty of reaching many of the respon-
dents. They were told to leave a message with the waste oil firm to call
Response Analysis collect, if they were unable to directly contact the cor-
rect respondent. A letter from Response Analysis explaining the nature of
the study and that Response Analysis was conducting the study for the En-
vironmental Protection Agency was sent to each organization before inter-
viewing began. A sample of the letter is bound in this report. Each re-
spondent was assured through the letter and the interviewer that individual
answers would be kept in strict confidence and results would be available
only as a statistical compilation:
The results of the interviewing were as follows:
TOTAL NAMES 285
Completed interviews 100
Refused 43
*Do not collect waste oil 32
Direct contact with respondent
not made (Response Analysis’
number given —— never called back) 44
No longer in business 32
No answer, six callbacks made 25
Duplicate 9
*Although these firms had listings in the waste oil categories in yellow
page telephone directories, they have either changed their operation or
else their type of business can be subsumed under no other directory
heading.
233
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Response Analysis
Research park, Route 206
Princetor New Jersey 08540
(609 921 -3.333
March 1 1974
Dear Sir:
Response Analysis is a private research organization, specializing
in attitude, social, and marketing research. Currently we are con-
ducting a nationwide study for the Edison, New Jersey Laboratories
of the Environmental Protection Agency on waste oil collection and
processing.
Your firm is one of a randomly selected group of waste oil collection
and/or processing businesses throughout the country who are being
surveyed to better understand the contribution being made by such
firms to our present energy needs. Your participation will take only
a little time by telephone but is essential to the study’s success.
Please be assured that your individual answers will be kept in strict
confidence. Neither your company’s name or your name will be identi-
fied with your responses in any manner. Results will be available to
the Environmental Protection Agency only in summary form and not for
any individual or company.
Our representative will phone you during the next week or so to get
your opinions. If you have any questions, please call me at
(609) 921-3333, or Leo McCarthy, Assistant Director of the Edison Lab-
oratories at (201) 548-3347.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
IZ.Q ! ‘+ —
Paul A. Scipione, Ph.D.
Researc . Associ ate
en
c i
234
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Time Began:___________
NATIONAL WASTE OIL COLLECTORS AND PROCESSORS SURVEY
Hello, I am____________ from Response Analysis Corporation in Princeton, New
Jersey. Recently you were sent a letter telling you about a survey on waste
oils and asking your cooperation. Did you receive that letter? (IF NOT: USE
SCRIPT TO EXPLAIN PURPOSE OF SURVEY)
I would just like to ask you sone questions which wifl take only a few minutes.
(IF RESPONDENT IS TOO BUSY, MAKE APPOINTMENT TO CALL BACK)
1. What approximate radius, in miles does your firm collect oil in?
1 10 MILES OR LESS
2 11 TO 25 MILES
3 26 TO 100 MILES
4 101 TO 200 MILES
5 OVER 200 MILES
6 OTHER: (SPECIFY):________________
7 DON t T KNOW
2. Please tell me the names of the states in which you collect waste oil
1 ALABAMA
2 ARIZONA
3 ARKANSAS
4 CALIFORNIA
5 COLORADO
6 CONNECTICUT
7 DELAWARE
8 FLORIDA
9 GEORGIA
10 IDAHO
11 ILLINOIS
12 INDIANA
13 IOWA
14 KANSAS
15 KENTUCKY
16 LOUISIANA
17 MAINE
18 MARYLAND
19 MASSACHUSETTS
20 MICHIGAN
21 MINNESOTA
22 MISSISSIPPI
23 MISSOURI
24 MONTANA
26 NEBRASKA
26 NEVADA
27 NEW HAMPSHIRE
28 NEW JERSEY
29 MEW MEXICO
30 NEW YORK
31 NORTH CAROLINA
32 NORTH DAKOTA
33 OHIO
34 OKLAHOMA
35 OREGON
36 PENNSYLVANIA
37 RHODE ISLAND
38 SOUTH CAROLINA
39 SOUTH DAKOTA
40 TENNESSEE
41 TEXAS
42 UTAH
43 VERMONT
44 VIRGINIA
45 WASHINGTON
46 WEST VIRGINIA
47 WISCONSIN
48 WYOMING
3. How many trucks do you use
truck hold?
to collect waste oil and tiow many gallons does each
NUMBER OF TRUCKS
GALL ONS
235
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4. We would like to know what types of businesses you collect waste oil from.
Do you collect waste oil from ( TYPE OF BUSINESS) ? IF YES -- How many gallons
per month do you collect from ( TYPE OF BUSINESS) ? (IF NO GO TO NEXT TYPE OF
BUSINESS)
(INTERVIEWER: ASK FOR EACH TYPE A—H)
Q. 5
Q• 4 NUMBER COLLECTED FROM
BY BY
COLLECT FROM GALLONS/MONTH CONTRACT CALL
YES NO
a. Service stations and
new car dealers 1 2 ____________ ________ _______
b. Pipelines 1 2 ___________ _______ _______
c. Car or truck fleets 1 2 ____________ ________ ________
d. Railroads 1 2 ____________ ________ ________
e. Marine sources 1 2 ____________ ________ ________
f. Industrial users 1 2 ____________ ________ ________
g. Other waste oil
collectors 1 2 ____________
h. Any other businesses
(SPEtIFY): __________ 1 2 ___________ _______ ________
__________ 1 2 ______ ____ ____
ASK Q. 5 FOR EACH TYPE COLLECTED F )M)
15. How many ( TYPE OF BUSINESS ) do you collect from on a contract
basis, and how many others on a per-call basis?
6. Do you have your own storage facilities for the oil you collect, or do you only
transport the oil to another waste oil collector or processor?
1 HAVE STORAGE FACILITIES -- SKIP TO Q. 8
2 TRANSPORT TO COLLECTOR OR PROCESSOR
7. Could you tell me the name and address of the collector or processor you take
your waste oil to?
F Q. 7 ASKED, SKIP TO Q. 201
236
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8. What is the total Capacity of your storage facilities in gallons?
1 UNDER 2 ThOUSAND GALLONS
2 OVER 2 THOUSAND - 5 HUNDRED THOUSAND GALLONS
3 OVER 5 HUNDRED THOUSAND - 1 MILLION GALLONS
4 OVER 1 MILLION - 1 MILLION 5 HUNDRED THOUSAND GALLONS
5 OVER 1 MILLION 5 HUNDRED THOUSAND - 2 MILLION GALLONS
9. What do you do with the waste oil when you remove it from storage. First,
do you use it for road oil or dust control? (INTERVIEW: READ REMAINING
IbETHODS b-f)
Q. 10
DON’T Q.11
USE USE AMOUNT
Do you:
a. Use for road oil or dust control 1 2
b. Use for fuel 1 2
c. Take to another collector or processor 1 2
d. Put in settling tank — - that is settling 1 2
without any other treatn nt
e. Take to your own processing or rerefining 1 2
plant
f. Are there any other things you do with it? 1 2
SPECIFY:_______________________________
A
(ASKQ. 10 FOR EACH USE INDICATED
JJO. How many gallons per year do you (USE)? —
INTERVIEWER: IF RESPONDENT TAKES ANY OIL TO OWN PROCESSING OR
REREFINING PLANT, METHOD e, CONTINUE WITH QUESTION 11. IF RE-
SPONDENT DOES NOT TAKE TO OWN PROCESSING OR REREFINING PLANT
SKIP TO QUESTION 20.
11. What is the total capacity of your processing facilities in gallons per year?
1 UNDER 25 THOUSAND GALLONS
2 OVER 25 THOUSAND - 1 MILLION GALLONS
3 OVER 1 MILLION - 6 MILLION GALLONS
4 OVER 6 MILLiON - 18 MILLION GALLONS
5 OVER 18 MILLION - 24 MILLION GALLONS
6 OVER 24 MILLION GALLONS
7 DON’T KNOW
237
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12. How much waste oil would you estimate you processed in your facilities in 1973?
1 UNDER 25 THOUSAND GALLONS
2 OVER 25 THOUSAND - 1 MILLION GALLONS
3 OVER 1 MILLION - 6 MILLION GALLONS
4 OVER 6 MILLION - 18 MILLION GALLONS
5 OVER 18 MILLION - 24 MILLION GALLONS
6 OVER 24 MILLION GALLONS
7 DON’T KNOW
13. I am going to read you a list of processing methods. For each one could you
please tell me whether or not you use this type of processing. First, caustic
treatment, do you use caustic treatment?
Q. 13
DON’T Q. 14
USE METHOD AMOUNT PROCESSED
Do you use: USE METhOD OR DON’T KNOW IN 1973 IN GALLONS
a. Caustic treatment 1 2 __________________
b. Silicate treatment 1 2 _________________
c. Chemical treatment 1 2 _________________
d. Filtration 1 2 _________________
e. Centrifuge 1 2 __________________
f. Flash drying 1 2 ________________
g. Distillation batch
method 1 2 _________________
h. Continuous vacuum
distillation 1 2 ________________
i. Acid treatment 1 2 _______________
j. Clay treatment 1 2 ______________
k. Settling tank 1 2 _______________
1. Other methods (SPECIFY):
__________ 1 2 _______
__________ 1 2 _______
ASK Q. 14 FOR EACH METHOD USED IN Q. 13
14. About how many gallons did you process using ( TREATMENT ) during 1973?
238
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15. Next, I am going to read you a list of products. Please tell me whether or
not you produce each type. First take #2 fuel oil, do you produce #2 fuel
oil?
Q. 15
DON’T ( 6
PRODUCE PRODUCE AMOUNT
PRODUCT PRODUCT PRODUCED IN 1973
a. #2 fuel oil 1 2 ________________
b. #4 or #5 fuel oil 1 2 ________________
C. #6 fuel oil 1 2 ________________
d. Process oil 1 2 ________________
e. Asphalt flux 1 2 ________________
f. Lube oils 1 2 ________________
g. Road oils 1 2 ________________
h. Farmoil 1 2 ___________
I. Journal box oil 1 2 _______________
j. Other (SPECIFY):
____________ 1 2 _______
____________ 1 2 _______
ASK Q. 16 FOR EACH PRODUCT PRODUCED IN Q. 15
6. How many gallons of ( PRODUCT ) did you produce in 1973?
17. How do you dispose of wastes; such as tank bottom, acid or caustic sludge,
spent clay or distillation residue that develop in the course of processing?
Do you: USE DON’T DON’T
METHOD USE METHOD KNOW
a. Dump it in a land fill 1 2 3
b. Dump it in a deepwell 1 2 3
c. Dump it in the ocean 1 2 3
ci. Use your own biological treatment 1 2 3
e. Use a public biological treatment 1 2 3
f. Burnit 1 2 3
g. Use any other method 1 2 3
SPECIFY: _______________________
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18. What about waste water treatment?
USE DON’T DON’T
Do you use: METHOD USE METHOD KNOW
a. Emulsion breaking 1 2 3
b. Oil—water separation 1 2 3
c. Skiming 1 2 3
d. Biological treatment, such as
trickling filter or activated
sludge 1 2 3
e. Centrifuge 1 2 3
f. Filters 1 2 3
g. Activated carbon 1 2 3
h. Any other method (SPECIFY):
_______________ 1 2 3
19. What about air pollution control?
USE DON’T DON’T
Do you use: METHOD USE METHOD KNOW
a. Scrubbing 1 2 3
b. Incineration 1 2 3
c. Electro-static precipitator 1 2 3
d. Bag filters 1 2 3
e. Any other method (SPECIFY):
_______________ 1 2 3
Finally a few general background questions to help us analyse the results.
20. During the last year or so has your business been growing, declining, or
has there been no major change in your size?
1 GROWING
2 DECLINING
3 NO CHANGE - - SKIP TO Q. 23
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21. What is the reason for the (growth/decline) in business?
22. What future trends do you foresee in your type of business?
23. How many terminals or storage facilities do you have in urban areas? How
about rural areas?
URBAN AREAS ______________________
RURAL AREAS ______________________
24. How many fullticne employees do you have?
1 LESS THAN 10
2 11 - 50
3 51 — 100
4 101 - 150
5 150 - 200
6 OVER 200
7 DON’T KNOW
25. How many shifts do you operate?
1 ONE
2 TWO
3 THREE
4 OTHER (SPECIFY): _____________________________
5 DON’T KNOW
Thank you very much for your cooperation
Time Ended: ________
Length of Interview:
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Respondent appeared 1 Very knowledgeable
2 Somewhat knowledgeable
3 Not very knowledgeable
Respondent was 1 Cooperative
2 Somewhat cooperative
3 Very uncooperative
Respondent’s Name: _____________________________________
Title:
Company Name:
Business Address: __________________________________________
Business Telephone: ______________________________________
Interviewer Name: __________________________________ Date:
242
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APPENDIX E
INDUSTRIAL SURVEY
243
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SIC MAJOR GROUP 01 - Agricultural Production/Crops
Annual oil purchases and disposal practices were re-
ported for one plant and related field operation.
Machine and Repair Shop
Service tractors, bulldozers, carts, and other field vehi-
cle.
Ann u a 1
Type Use Amount
Havoline Motor oil 30 100 cases (24 qts/
case)
Marfax #1 Grease 50 drums (120 lbs/
drum)
Series 3—LA330 oil 12,000 gallons
Randol C-hydraulic oil field
equip-
ment hy-
draulic
cylinders
Series 1—SAE 30 12,000 gallons
URSA ED 30 oil 12,000 gallons
These oils are changed right in the field and dumped on the
ground at the site (45,000 acres).
Oils Purchased for In—Plant Usage
Annual
Type Use Amount
Klingfast Special Extra Lubricate 80 drums (420 lbs/
Light Oil main jour- drum)
nals
Klingfast 265-11W Lube Lubricate 8 drums (440 lbs/
Oil wheels for drum)
mills
676—W Brooks Worm Lubricate 13 kegs (115 lbs/
Gear Oil all worm keg)
gears
Texaco Regal, PC (R+O) Lubricate 120 drums (55 gal/
speed re- drum)
ducers
244
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Arrnua 1
Type Use Amount
Texaco Regal G (R+O) Lubricate 30 drums (55 gall
speed re— drum)
du cers
Texaco Regal A (R+O) 15 drums (55 gall
drum)
Texamatic Fluid Hydraulic 6 drums (55 gal/
fluid drum)
Mart ax MP-#2 Grease caps, 30 drums (120 lbs/
bearings, drum)
shafts
Crater 2X Fluid Hydraulic 6 drums (415 lbs/
fluid drum)
URSA LA3 SAE 40 Oil Special 2 drums (55 gal/
lube oil drum)
Meropa #3 Lubricate 1 drum (55 gal/
speed re- drum)
ducers
Meropa #8 H 50 drums (415 lbs/
drum)
The oils from the speed reducers are changed, collected in
drums and used without any processing for less demanding
lubrication such as chains, gears, etc.
The other oils are dissipated in unknown ways, e.g. dripping
on floors, getting in product (?), vaporizing, etc. Drips
on floors wind up in drains, which used to go to drainage
ditches. Presently the company is separating drains which
receive pollutants and directing them to an impounding area.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 02 — Agricultural Production/Live—Stock
The company contacted has seven independent agricultural
production (live-stock) operations. One typical operation
reported that the only waste oils they generated were from
the servicing of pickup trucks and power equipment. The
crankcase oils, approximately 20 gallons per month, are
collected in 55 gallon drums and used to lubricate high
speed roller chains and open drive shafts on conveyer equip—
men t.
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SIC MAJOR GROUP 07 - Agricultural Services
The agricultural service company contacted has approxi—
rnately 900—1000 employees at their main plant. Waste oils
generated from their operations and the means of disposal
are:
1. Lube and seal oil in ammonia refrigeration
systems. They purchase about 55 gallons per
month to makeup that which is disposed of by
dumping down the drain. About 150 gallons
per month additional are drained, filtered,
allowed to vent the dissolved ammonia, and
reused.
2. The plant purchases about 300 gallons per
month of gear box, motor, compressor, and
other drive system lube oils. Most of them
leak out onto the ground. An estimated 100
gallons per month are drained off and dumped
down the drain.
3. There are very small amounts of transformer
oils involved. They are cleaned up and re-
used.
4. The fuel oil tank purges about 50 gallons
per month of Bunker C or No. 6 oil
which goes into a small laqoon. This
is caused by a steam leak in a heating coil.
Presently there are about 500 gallons of oil
in the lagoon arid it is in the company T s
interest to recover and use this oil.
5. Sludge from the fuel oil tank is removed
once a year and buried in a local dump.
6. There are about 700 gallons per month of
crankcase oils generated from the servicing
of material haulers and industrial vehicles.
These are stored in a 4,000 gallon under-
ground tank and hauled away once a month by
a local waste oil collector. There is no
charge for the disposal service.
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SIC MAJOR GROUP 79 - Amusement and Recreation Services
Except Motion Pictures
Machine Shop
Generates about 25 gallons per week of waste lube and
cutting oils. They collect them in a 1,000 gallon holding
tank. Periodically it is picked up by a local waste oil
collector.
On-Site Vehicles Maintenance Shop
Approximately 300 vehicles (trucks, buses, trains, etc.)
are serviced (about 25 lube oil changes per week). The
waste oils are collected and stored in the same tank as
above.
Small Engine Maintenance Shop
Services lawn mowers, tractors, pumps, etc. Lube and
hydraulic oils are put in 55 gallon drums and used for dust
control purposes. Very small quantities of waste oils are
involved.
Company Owned Gas Station
Services company cars. They reportedly accumulate
less than 30 gallons per month. The oil is collected in
55 gallon drums and is used for fire training programs and
dust control at a sanitary landfill site.
Central Energy Plant
Has two natural gas jet turbines for electricity
followed by hot water boiler. The oils purchased for the
plant are as follows:
1. Jet Engine Oil-—consumption 40 gallons
per year
2. Turbine Oil--consumption 200 gallons per
year
3. Air Compressor Oil—-consumption 75 gallons
per year
4. Chiller Oil--consumption 100 gallons per
year
247
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5. General Lube Oil--consumption 200 gallons
per year
Any waste oil is collected and put in the main waste oil
storage tank to be hauled away.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 23 - Apparel and Other Finished Products
Made From Fabrics and Similar Materials
All company vehicles are serviced at local service
stations (40 cars and 20 trucks). An estimated 3,200 gals!
year of sewing machine oil is purchased and used on gears
in the sewing machines. The oil disappears onto fabrics or
into the air, therefore, no disposal is needed. Approxi-
mately 600 gallons per year of hydraulic oil and 5 gallons
per year of oil from compressors are dumped on an open lot
behind the factory. Transformers are serviced under con-
tract. There is no process water in this plant.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 75 — Automotive Repair Services and Garages
The company leases more than 10,000 each of short
term rental cars, rental trucks, and long term lease cars.
Sixty percent of the cars and all of the rental trucks are
serviced at various company owned service areas throughout
the U. S. The balance of the cars are leased from auto-
mobile manufacturers and serviced under contract.
The vehicles that are directly serviced by the company
have the oil and oil filter changed every 6,000 miles. The
average vehicle is run approximately 15,000 miles per month
and is used for rental or lease purposes for 18,000-20,000
miles. It is then sold or returned to the manufacturer.
The waste oils generated from the servicing of the
vehicles is collected and stored in underground waste oil
storage tanks at the various locations. The tank sizes
range from 500-2,000 gallons depending on the size of the
service area. The waste oils are then hauled away by
scavengers. Information on the fees paid for the disposal
services or the quantities of waste oils involved were not
available.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 55 — Automotive Dealers and Gasoline Service
Stations
Five auto dealers were contacted. They had a combined
total sales of 4,000 cars per year. Estimated purchases,
248
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totaling 11,400 gallons per year of multi—viscosity SAE1OW-
30 oil were made in 1973.
Waste oils are collected at all dealers, however no
information on quantities was available. Three of the
dealers pay a flat rate (approximately $9.00) every two
months to have the waste oils hauled away. The other two
dealers do not pay any fee; the oil is just picked up.
One of the newer auto dealers has an oil-water sepa-
rator unit on the main discharge to the city sewer; the oil
recovered is dumped into the same tank with the drain oils
and collected. Outside run-off does not enter into this
system.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 12 — Bituminous Coal and Lignite Mining
The company contacted purchased 960,000 gallons of lube
oils in 1972. Most of this is used for trucks and other
diesel engines. Some oil is used with additional fuel oil
to spray coal in coal cars in cold weather; less than 20,000
gallons per year is used for this purpose. Some waste lube
oils are used as fuel; however, most is collected by
scavengers. The company pays 2 per gallon to have it hauled
away.
Any fuel oils spilled are impounded, collected, and re-
turned to storage tanks.
No. 2 oil is used as a frothing agent in those plants
which have treatment facilities. This oil, along with coal
particles, is returned to a coal pile. A total of 20,000
gallons per year for all plants is used for frothing.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 15 - Building Construction/General Con-
tractors and Operative Builders
The company owns 100-150 trucks throughout the U. S.,
all serviced at service stations. They claim no waste oils
are generated from equipment (all electric) or construction
operations. The company is involved mostly in construction
of commercial buildings.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 73 - Business Services
This maintenance and repair company owns three cranes
serviced by the factory; 10 leased trucks, serviced under
contract; and approximately 30 vans and pick-up trucks which
are serviced at local stations.
249
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Approximately 30 gallons per year of cutting oils are
purchased which go out in the cutting chips. An estimated
350 gallons per year of waste oils generated from various
jobs are taken to the town dump for disposal.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 28 - Chemicals and Allied Products
A single large chemical plant reported the following
for their oil usage and disposal. For the year 1973, they
purchased 1.2 million gallons of process oils. Of this
500,000 gallons were directly consumed in their products,
10,000 gallons were disposed of by incineration, 600,000
gallons went to landfill, and 75,000 gallons went to the
treatment ditch. Purchases of lube oils for the same year
totaled 620,000 gallons, 12,000 gallons of which were dis—
posed of by incineration, with an additional 50,000 going
to the treatment ditch.
From the treatment ditch, approximately 62,000 gallons
per year is discharged into a river with other wastewater
streams. The total wastewater discharge rate is 80,000
gallons per minute. The remaining 63,000 gallons, recovered
as sludges and contaminated oil from the treatment ditch,
are hauled to a landfill site. The company is studying
means to recover oil usable as fuel.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 48 - Communication
Information was supplied for two typical plants rnanu-
facturing component parts for cummunication equipment.
Plant A manufactures small electronic parts. They
purchase only 5-10 gallons per month for stationery machine
lubrication. It is used for lubrication of bearings,
electric motors, etc. All vehicles are leased and serviced
under contract. The only waste oil that is generated is
from the crankcase draining of two diesel powered generators.
The oil is changed once per year and disposed of in the
trash.
Plant B manufactures cable and various types of wire.
The reported purchases of oils are as follows:
1. Vehicular crankcase oil for gasoline and
diesel engines - 360 gallons per month.
2. Oil for stationary machine lubrication —
2,000 gallons per month.
250
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3. Emulsified oils - 3,000 gallons per month.
4. Other metal working oils - 400 gallons
per month.
5. Insulation oils - 800 gallons per month.
6. Hydraulic oils - 3,800 gallons per month.
7. Process oils - 5,000 gallons per month.
Plant B reclaims approximately 13,000 gallons per year of
their stationary machine, metal working, and hydraulic oils
through an outside re—refiner. The balance of the waste
oils are disposed of via a local scavenger. A fee of $240
per month is paid for this disposal service.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 16 - Construction Other than Building Con-
struction General Construction
On one major construction site, the company owns and
services 22 large diesel driven rigs (cranes, loaders,
crawlers, etc.) and 21 pickup type trucks. It also rents
35 larger trucks and vans. The maintenance shop services
two vehicles per day. All waste oils that are recoverable
are dumped into one of two 1,000 gallon storage tanks.
Approximately 8,500 gallons per year of waste oil is hauled
away at a cost of 3.5 per gallon. Form oils soak into
wooden forms and go out with the scrap wood; 10,578 gallons
of form oil has been used.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 58 - Eating and Drinking Places
The Company contacted has well over 500 restaurants
throughout the U. S. Waste oils generated from the restau-
rants are beef and vegetable fats and oils, calculated to
total 7,488,000 pounds per year. It is collected at each
location by local tallow services which pay 1—1 l/2 per
pound.
All company cars (over 100) are serviced at local ser-
vice stations or under- contract agreement with a leasing
company.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 82 - Educational Services
All waste oils from the university’s vehicles (SAE
lOW-30), power equipment, and physical plant operations are
251
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collected and stored in. 55 gallon drums. It is later blend-
ed into No. 6 fuel oil and burned in the main boilers. J n
estimated 100 gallons per month is disposed of in this
manner.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 49 - Electric, Gas, and Sanitary Services
The power company interviewed has more than ten
generating stations and many hundreds of electrical sub-
stations. No serious spillage problems from fuel oil
tankage has occurred. The following discussion is, there-
fore, limited to other major types of oil used — for
transformers, circuit breakers, and turbines. Little
cable oil is used by this company.
Most generating stations and some substations have
a waste oil tank with a capacity of about 10,000 gallons.
Some waste oil is sprayed onto coal piles, and some used
as road oil, but most is picked up by a collector. Some
waste oil used to be applied as weed killer, but this is
no longer practiced. No central data was available on
oil purchases, or on waste oil collected. As will be
discussed, considerable internal recycle (purification)
occurs.
Transformer Oils
Direct purchases of transformer oils is very small,
since most is bought with the transformer and used for
its life. Purchases are generally limited to spillage
makeup.
Transformers contain 2 gallons to 31,000 gallons,
depending on size. Small transformers are shipped full;
while, for large transformers, the oil is shipped
separately and filled onsite. Transformer oil undergoes
tests for dielectric strength before putting it into
service. The oil is treated by means of portable vacuum
equipment, primarily for drying. Testing of the full
transformers is also done routinely to detect problems,
including oil degradation. When oil problems are detected,
the oil may be processed by use of vacuum equipment.
Fuller’s earth is used only when sludge is present.
Transformers may be used for 40 years or more, in
progressively less severe service, before discard.
Upon discard, oil may be sold to special reprocessing
252
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companies, dumped to the waste oil storage tank, or left
in the transformer. In the growing power industry, discard
has been, infrequent.
PCB oils are used for indoor transformers because of
their fire resistance. These are handled as a hazardous
material in. sealed units. PCB’s are disposed of by
returning them to the PCB manufacturer.
Circuit Breaker Oils
Oil similar to transformer oil is used in circuit
breakers for 69 kilovolt service or lower. The oil becomes
contaminated by arc products, e.g. gases, such as methane
and ethylene, carbon, and water. The useful life of this
oil may be four years or more depending on the frequency
of operation, which is monitored. Degraded oil is purified
in mobile filter presses, or is taken out dirty to central
cleaning facilities, and replaced with cleaned oil.
Dielectric strength measurements are used to check the
oil, which is discarded when it finally cannot be used.
About 50,000 to 150,000 gallons per year are purchased.
Turbine Oils
Turbine oils are generally circulated through cloth
filters to remove particles and centrifuged to remove
water. The generating plants maintain storage facilities
for both clean and dirty turbine oils. During turbine
servicing, every two or three years, oil is removed to a
tank and then returned. Makeup is required on older units,
so that typical plants may purchase 100-1000 gallons per
month of turbine oil. However, makeup for new units is
negligible, as little as 12 gallons per 1000 service
hours.
Older plants have oil/water separators and/or oil
skimmers on the wastewater pond. Oil is first separated
and recovered from a turbine room sump. Water is pumped
to the wastewater facility. Little difficulty is
encountered meeting 10 ppm oil and grease limits.
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SIC MAJOR GROUP 36 - Electrical and Electronic Machinery,
Equipment, and Supplies
Plant A - Approximately 200-300 gallons per year of
waste oils were generated in-plant from the servicing of
vehicles or industrial equipment, and from stationary
machine lubrication and cutting oils. The waste oils are
stored in 55 gallon drums and hauled away by a local dis-
posal service.
Plant B - Waste oils generated in—plant, as described
above, are segregated and the less contaminated oils are
blended into the fuel supply. The remainder of the waste
oils are hauled away.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 91 - Executive, Legislative and General
Government
The information for a government service was collected
from several of the agencies as no central source of dat.a
was available.
The highway department owns and services over 1,000
cars, trucks, and other pieces of equipment. Tt purchased
25,500 gallons of SAE 1OW—30 multi—viscosity oil in 1973
for its service areas. Each service area disposes of its
own waste oil by a local collector picking it up. There is
relatively little shop oils or hydraulic oils handled.
There was no central source of information on names or costs
of disposal for the individual service areas.
The central motor pool services over 1,000 cars used
by various agencies. An estimated 4,000 gallons per year
of lube oil is purchased and used at the central maintenance
shop. No records of the waste oil quantities have been kept
as there is no cost involved. The waste oil is stored in a
500 gallon underground tank and is collected by a local
waste oil collector.
Another agency estimates they generate 1,100 gallons
per year of waste oils from vehicles and equipment. The
waste oil is hauled away by a service at no cost to the
agency.
The police department services its own vehicles (over
1,000) at four different locations. An estimated 11,000
‘gallons per year of waste oil is generated, and hauled away at
each of the four locations by collection services.
254
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The buildings department estimates generation of 250
gallons per year of waste oil. This comes from maintenance
shops, air-conditioning units, and power equipment. It is
blended into the No. 6 fuel oil tank and burned in the
boilers.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 34 - Fabricated Metal Products, Except
Machinery & Transportation Equipment
The following information came from one plant with
approximately 1,000 employees.
Lube Oils Purchased Yearly % Waste Primary
For High Speed Pro- Usage, oil Contaminant
duction Equipment Gal. Generated or Residue
A 2640 0
B 106 0 —
C 383 34 Sludge
D 990 20 Sludge
E 5480 81 Sludge (iron,
tin, NH 4 C1,
ZnC1 2 )
F 165 40 Sludge (metal,
heavy grease)
G 165 0 —
H 924 71 Sludge
I 1096 60 Sludge
Lube Oils Purchased
For Lift Trucks
Motor Oil 1095 30 Sludge
Trans. Fluid 218 30 Sludge
Miscellaneous Oils
Gear Lube 217 0 Sludge
Cylinder Oil 106 0 sludge
Other Oil 277 24 Varnish
13862
On various occasions the plant has tried oil reclaimed
from these wastes. In each instance the trials gave un-
satisfactory results. The practice now is to have the
accumulated waste oils hauled away by an outside concern
monthly (averaging 550 gallons per month). The overall cost
for such collection and disposal averages 27 per gallon.
255
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This is generally typical of the company’s other manu-
facturing locations.
At a few of the other locations recent practice has
been to add a major portion of these wastes to the No. 6
oil used for space-heating boilers. The sludge is not
efficiently separated from the remainder of the waste oil;
the “supernatant” liquid is merely “poured off” and added
to the fuel oil, with only the remaining sludge hauled away
by the scavenger. Such use of a portion of the waste oil
for fuel is limited to the few plants equipped with boilers
of the type that can handle such wastes without causing an
air pollution problem due to the inorganic contaminants in
the wastes.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 09 - Fishing, Hunting and Trapping
A fisherman’s cooperative that services approximately
50 fishing vessels sells 36,000 gallons per year of engine
crankcase oil. Sales of other oils are small in quantity
(e.g. gear oils, hydraulic oil, etc.).
Crankcase oils are usually changed every 200 operating
hours or every one to two weeks. The waste oils (approxi-
mately 10—20 gallons per vessel) are drained into old 5
gallon containers, which the crankcase oil is purchased in,
and disposed of at sea or in trash receptacles at dock side.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 20 - Food and Kindred Products
A multi—plant meat processing operation was investi-
gated. The operation included four types of plants:
slaughter, integrated (slaughter plus processing), pure
processing, and distribution. About 6Olbs. of offal (blood,
trimmings, bone, intestines, etc.) are recovered per
animal and sold for various purposes, including edible and
inedible tallows, animal feed, etc. About the only loss
occurs when emulsified oils escape primary water clarifiers.
Wastewater discharge to municipal plants contain 100-
300 ppm hexane solubles (oil + non-oil), attainable in
normal clarifiers. Point source discharge requires further
treatment, usually aerobic and/or anaerobic digestion to
reduce hexane solubles to 5-10 ppm. Most plants discharge
to municipal treatment, but some major plants are point
sources.
256
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Lower oil levels are sometimes achieved by polyelectro-
lyte addition and air flotation. Oil recovered from any
clarifier operation is processed for use in soaps, command-
ing prices of 3—l5 /lb., depending upon quality. About
1% of the meat processed is recovered and sold as oils and
fats. Clarifier sludges,containing 4—5% solids,are usually
landfilled.
Total losses of oil and fat to wastewater and sludges
may be on the order of 0.2—0.5% of the meat processed.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 54 - Food Stores
The following represents information on waste oil
generation and disposal practices for all processing,
distribution, and sales activities. Approximately 4,000
gallons per month of lubricating, hydraulic, and refrigera-
tion oils are purchased. Waste oils are disposed of:
a) by burning in plant boilers (approximately
100 gallons per month),
b) road oiling or weed control at plant sites
(approximately 700 gallons per month),
c) collection and. removal via a local scavenger
(500 gallons per month).
The balance of the oils are consumed in their particular
use, lost due to leakage, or are unaccounted for.
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SIC MAJOR GROUP 25 - Furniture and Fixtures
The company contacted manufactures wooden furniture
and fixtures. The number of wood working machines in one
typical plant averages about 500, with 700 to 750 employees.
There are 18 tractor—trailers (diesel), 7 trucks, 3 cars,
and 3 fork lifts, all of which are serviced at the plant.
Purchases of oil in 1973, for the one plant, totalled
over 10,000 gallons of crankcase oil for vehicles and
lubrication oils for stationary machines, with an additional
20,000 pounds of grease purchased for lubrication of wood
working machinery.
All waste oils and greases are collected in-plant and
stored in 55 gallon drums. The waste oil is then disposed
of at a municipal dump or given away to farmers for lubri-
cation of farm machinery.
Waste oils were disposed of, in the past, by using
them for road oiling. However, this practice has been dis-
continued.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 53 - General Merchandise Stores
The company contacted owns and operates over 100
general merchandise retail stores. Approximately 25% of
all the stores have an automotive service center. This is
where the bulk of the company’s waste oils are generated.
In a survey of 15 representative service centers,
an estimated average of 200 gallons per month per location
of waste oils are generated from crankcase drainings. These
oils are disposed of at all locations via local waste oil
collectors. Generally the only other source of waste oils
in large quantities is from the company’s fleet of vans and
cars. These vehicles are usually serviced at their own
automotive service centers, or at local service stations.
All other vehicles or transportation equipment are leased
and serviced under contract.
Most buildings, offices, and warehouses are heated
electrically or by natural gas. Little or no fuel oil is
handled. Any waste oils that are generated from the rnainten—
ance of these buildings would be small in quantity and dis-
posed of in the trash.
The company does sell some automotive oils, less than
10% of which are sold in. the service centers. They are
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generally purchased over—the—counter and used by “do-it-
yourselfers” who service their own cars.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 80 - Health Services
The four vehicles owned by the hospital contacted are
serviced at local service stations. An estimated 200 gallons
per year of waste oils are generated from generators, com-
pressors, and shop oils. It is collected by scavengers.
However, no formal records are kept on quantities and there
is no fee paid for the service.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 70 - Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps and Other
Lodging Places
The main office of this hotel chain leases more than
100 cars, all serviced under contract. One typical hotel
generates waste oil from one car, which is serviced at a
local station, lawn mowers, and a central chilling unit
(serviced under contract). Vegetable oils from the kitchen
are hauled away by a scavenger.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 63 - Insurance
The company has 200 cars across the U. S. which are
serviced in local service stations. All equipment in the
office buildings are serviced under contract, e.g. elevators,
heating and air—conditioning units and transformers. They
claim to generate no waste oils from any operation or
maintenance they conduct.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 31 - Leather and Leather Products
The company contacted purchased approximately 1,800
gallons of various lubrication and hydraulic oils in 1972.
They were used for servicing company vehicles, lubrication
of stationary machinery, and hydraulic systems.
Twenty-five gallons per month of hydraulic oil is
recycled using a filtration process, and the remaining
quantity of waste oil is hauled away under contract by
a local disposal company.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 41 - Local & Surburban Transit and Inter-
urban Highway Passenger Transportation
One bus company that was contacted reported that their
buses, either diesel or turbine, are serviced at various
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company centers throughout the United States. At all
locations, waste oils from crankcase drainings, transmission
fluids, etc. are collected and stored in underground stor—
age tanks. It is then pumped out and hauled away by local
scavengers. The quantities of waste oil and the fee or
price paid for the disposal service was riot available.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 24 - Lumber and Wood Products, Except
Furniture
No central records were available. One large mill,
greater than 500 tons per day, purchased the following for
one year:
1. Mi ii lube oils, including paper machines, pumps,
turbines and all lubricated systems - 308 drums
(55 gal.) = 16,940 gallons.
2. Hydraulic oil - 15-20 drums about 1000 gallons
for hydraulic systems and elevators throughout
plant.
3. Greases — 14,000 lbs.
4. Mobile equipment lube oil, including compressors-
133 drums = 7315 gallons.
5. Other lubricants, including vacuum oils, insulating
oils, cutting oils, and gear compounds - small
quantities.
Paper machine lube oil is filtered and centrifuged
as necessary (water contamination makes oil milky) , with
some oil added as makeup. The capacity of a single machine
is about 500 to 1000 gallons, which is replaced about once
per year. A 2000 gallon waste oil tank is available. The
waste oil may be blended with No. 6 fuel oil or removed
by a collector. Water removed by the centrifuge goes to
wastewater. Used oil from mobile equipment lubrication is
drummed and collected, amounting to about 3000 gallons per
year. However, some bulldozers are drained in the field
over a bed of chips and bark.
Leakage from fuel oil tanks to a surrounding water
filled berm is a problem, especially because the No. 6
oil density is close to and sometimes exceeds that of water.
This leakage and oil from other systems do find their
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way into the wastewater treatment system, where some oil is
skimmed, and finally to a large aerated holding pond,
which discharges to a river.
Tall oil lost during pulping is also discharged into
the wastewater system. The amount of tall oil lost varies
with the type of wood processed and with the facilities
available for recovery. Most western mills produce little
tall oil. No information was available on the amount of
oil contained in the wastewater effluent. The holding pond
is covered by an oil containing scum which gradually degrades,
or is blown away.
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SIC MAJOR GROUP 35 — Machinery, Except Electrical
The machine manufacturing company that was contacted
purchases the following types and quantities of oil per
month:
1. Crankcase oils used for vehicular
gasoline and diesel engines — less
than 100 gallons per month
2. Oil for stationary machine lubri-
cation - approximately 3,000 gallons
per month
3. Soluble and emulsified oils, cutting
oils — approximately 3,000 gallons
per month
4. Other types of metal working oils-
approximately 5,000 gallons per month
5. Hydraulic oils — approximately 5,000
gallons per month
These oils are dispensed from a central oil house to
the manufacturing operations in 70 gallon containers which
have hand pumps. After their specific use, the waste oils
are caught in drip pans or sump systems on the metal work-
ing machinery and returned to the oil house in 500 or 250
gallon tank carts. Little spillage or leakage occurs in
the handling of these oils.
Some of the cutting oils become contaminated with a
red dye, used to mark metals for cutting. Others contain
metal cutting chips, ut most shavings and metal chips are
recovered separately and contain virtually none of the
cutting oils.
Almost all waste oils are disposed of through a waste
oil collector. None are used as fuel. The waste oils are
stored in either 55 gallon drums or larger storage tanks.
An estimated 800,000 gallons per year of oily wastes are
hauled away at a fee of 5—10 cents per gallon.
There is a small quatity of hydraulic oil being re-
cycled, approximately 30 gallons per day. This process in-
volves filtration and dehydration. However, no large scale
recycling of waste oils is presently being practiced.
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SIC MAJOR GROUP 38 - Measuring, Analyzing and Controlling
Instruments; Photographic, Medical and
Optical Goods; Watches and Clocks
A typical manufacturing operation (1 of 2 locations)
has approximately 25 vehicles which are serviced in the
maintenance shop. The drain oil is dumped into a waste oil
storage tank. Together with hydraulic oils, gear oils,
coolant and water soluble cutting oils, an estimated 72,000
gallons per year of oiiy wastes are hauled away by a local
waste oil collection service. Of this, 40% is water from
the cutting oils. An unreported fee per gallon is paid for
the disposal service.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 10 - Metal Mining
The mining company contacted supplied the following
information for one of their typical open pit mines. It’s
production rate is 50,000 tons per day of ore with an over-
burden of 200,000 tons per day.
The oils purchased for this operation during 1973 were:
111,000 gallons SAE 30 Crankcase oil
72,000 gallons SAE 20 Crankcase oil
41,000 gallons SAE 10 Hydraulic oil
9,000 gallons Transmission fluid
233,000 gallons total
The mobile equipment used in the mining operations are:
Quantity
150 ton trucks 12
100 ton trucks 119
85 ton trucks 5
7.5 to 20 ton fork lift trucks 10
Bull dozers —D—8 29
Front-end loaders
lOyd. 7
6yd. 2
2 yd. 3
Electric shovels S
Road Graders 9
Pickup trucks 65
Service truck 1-1/2 — 5 ton 40
Fuel trucks 3
Large low bogs 2
Water trucks 10-12 ton 8
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Oil used for crusher lubrication in 1973 totalled
46,000 gallons. Oil purchased for miscellaneous usage in
1973 totalled 2,100 gallons.
All waste oils, resulting from maintenance of equip-
ment, during the winter months are dumped with the discarded
overburden. During the summer, about 15% of the waste oil
is used for dust control on mine roads. The company claims
that none of the waste oils get washed out of the mine or
carried away.
Two alternative methods for disposal of waste oils
are being considered at this time.
1. Re—refining on a toll basis.
2. Use with ammoriium nitrate for blasting
(new oil is used presently).
SIC MAJOR GROUP 14 - Mining and Quarrying of Non-Metallic
Minerals, Except Fuels
A multi-plant mining and quarrying operation reported
purchasing over 100,000 gallons of lubricating oil and
over 150,000 pounds of lubricating grease in 1973. These
were used for the servicing of company vehicles and equip-
ment, shown below, which required an oil change on the
average of 8 times per year.
Haul Wagons 44
Cranes 54
Air Compressors 12
Drills 9
Graders & Scrapers 9
Front End Loaders 38
Locomotives 1
Bulldozers & Tractçrs 13
Tugboats 11
Lift Trucks 27
Welders 24
Mixer Trucks 162
Tractor Trailers 2
Dump Trucks 2
Pick-up Trucks 37
Flat-beds 3
Dredges 5
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All waste oils are stored and. hau.Led away by a local
scavenger at each of 15 locations. Approximately 4,000
gallons per month of waste oil, in total, is disposed of
in this manner. No fee is involved for the disposal
service.
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SIC MAJOR GROUP 39 - Miscellaneous Manufacturing Industries
The main plant of the manufacturing operation contacted
has six company trucks which are serviced at local service
stations. All other waste oils from the plant are collected
and stored in 55 gallon drums; approximately 650 gallons of
water soluble cutting oils and 550 gallons per year of hy-
draulic oil are hauled away by a waste oil collector for
1-2c /gallon paid to the collector.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 76 - Miscellaneous Repair Services
Company claims to generate zero waste oils. Vehicles
are leased and serviced under contract; construction equip-
ment that they lease to contractors generates zero waste oil
(equipment has sealed bearings or grease fittings).
SIC MAJOR GROUP 89 — Miscellaneous Services
The institution contacted leases 5 cars and 17 trucks;
all are serviced under contract. Approximately 250 gallons
per year of waste oil is generated from the machine shop,
maintenance of compressors, or repair of hydraulic systems.
This includes all laboratory and office facilities. It is
disposed of via a scavenger service.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 78 - Motion Pictures
Claimed to generate zero waste oils.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 42 — Motor Freight Transportation & Ware-
housing
The cnpany contacted owns and services 260 Detroit
Diesel tra’tors. Twelve thousand gallons per year of crank-
case lubrication oil is purchased from Mobil.
They change oil every 15,000 miles. The crankcase of
each engifle holds 11 gallons of SAE lOW—30 oil. All drain
oils are hauled away by a local waste oil service, however,
no information on quantity or costs were available.
The garage where the tractors are serviced uses approxi-
mately 1,000 gallons per year of automotive parts cleaner.
This is dumped into the drain oil storage tank and hauled
away with the waste lubricating oil.
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SIC MAJOR GROUP 84 - Museums, Art Galleries, Botanical &
Zoological Gardens
Three facilities were contacted.
Zoo —— There was no information available on the amcu ts
of oil purchased or their specifications. They service 20
trucks (gas and diesel) and 50 pieces of power equinment.
They estimate 350 gallons per year of waste oils are gene—
rated from the vehicles and disposed of at the zoo s dump.
Little or no other oils are used at the zoo
Botanical Garden —- They purchase 600 gallons ncr year
of SAE 30 oil and 30 gallons per year of hydraulic oil.
Approximately 30 vehicles are serviced. The waste oils are
stored in drums and hauled away by a waste oil collector.
No fee is paid for the service.
Museum —— Five vehicles which are owned are serviced
at a local station. The little waste oils generated froo
the building go out in the trash.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 72 — Personal Services
A laundry service operates and services 300 vehicles
at one location. They purchase SAE 30 crankcase oil in
bulk. However, no information on quantity was available.
All waste oils are stored in an underground tank. Approxi
mately 2,000 gallons of waste oil is collected every 2-3
months by a waste oil collector. A fee of l per gallon i.s
paid to the collector.
SIC NAJOR GROUP 29 - Petroleum Refining, and Relatel
Industries
Discussions with this company covered refinina,
marketing, production, and marine losses.
Refining
Oil losses vary widely from refinery to refinery, hut
careful operation may result in the following:
1. Evaporative losses as hydrocarbons to the
atmosphere from tanks, flanges, etc. - 0.3%
of total throughput.
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2. Flare losses via CO 2 and H 2 0 — 0.1% of total
throughput.
3. Other losses via liquids and solids (spills and
wastewater; caustic, acid, biological sludges;
tank bottoms; spent clay and catalyst; offspec
polymer; rags and trash) - 0.1%.
Total losses in some refineries may be 1% or so, versus
0.5% total above.
Potentially recoverable losses (item 3. above)is
disposed of in a variety of ways, for example:
- tank dewatering—to wastewater
- lubes, greases, hydraulic oils, cutting oils
from vehicles, compressors, turbines, diesels,
gas engines, and central lube systems—picked
up by vacuum trucks and deposited in slop
tanks, or drained into wastewater system.
- tank cleanings and oily dirt from spills -
internally or to outside contractors for
incineration or landfill
— barometric condensers — on way out, but
oily water from those remaining to wastewater
- flanges leaking liquids - oil picked up by
vacuum trucks and deposited in slop tanks, by
absorbents and to landfill, or lost by
evaporation
- tank spills - contained in fire walls and
pumped to slop tanks
— caustic sludges — sold to companies who recover
cresylics and other chemicals, and paper
companies
— API separator sludges - some to outside contractors
and some to “landforming” (oxidation in layers
4 to 6 inches deep using disc cultivators)
- slop tank liquids - to special distillation for
recovery of crude products
- other sludges and solids - to outside contractors,
landforming, and fixation (outside contractors
add materials which cause reactions resulting in
inert fill material)
- biological sludges - generally to outside contractors,
thence to landfill
— oil in wastewater systems — about 85—90% removal
to 15 ppm or less (oil recovered to slop tanks)
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The net result is considerable internal recycle with a
very small percentage actually lost. However, even this
represents relatively large volumes; for example, 0.1%
loss is equivalent to almost 300 million gallons per year
nationwide.
Marketing
Oil losses in marketing operations take place at
numerous terminals and bulk plants. The terminals which
service pipelines, barges, and tankers all have oil/water
separators, but not all bulk plants have such facilities.
Oil losses include evaporative and spill losses; pipeline
interface and offspec oils; transfer losses; and tank,
truck, barge, railroad car, and tanker cleaning residues;
tank dewatering losses; and rain water drainage losses.
Some of these oils are collected by scavengers (e.g. oils
skimmed from separators, tank cleaning residues, oils
gathered from vehicle draining, and oils gathered from
repair shops) ; some are blended back to products (e.g.
Bunker oils recovered from loading area drains, interface
oils, and clean spill oils). Slop tanks in terminals
are often a depository for oils collected through spill
cooperatives.
Production
Crude oil production almost always leads to oil/water
mixtures. Modern facilities use heater—treaters to produce
pipeline quality oil. These are baffled tanks where heat
and chemicals are used to break oil/water emulsions. The
water is subsequently treated by a variety of methods,
including oil/water separators, flotation, and. sand filters.
These normally reduce oil content to 60-200 ppm, before
discharge to wells, waterways, the Gulf, etc. depending
upon location. Water quantities are small compared to
refinery water systems, and total oil losses are probably
on the order of 0.01%, with spill losses being the same
order of magnitude.
Marine
Refineries and terminals receive oil contaminated
waters from tanker washinq, and ballast and bilge water.
Most of this water is handled at Gulf Coast terminals
from U. S. flag product carriers of less than 75,000 tons.
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Product carriers require relatively little cleaning,
perhaps every 2—4 years. When cleaning is necessary,
tanks are usually cleaned at sea arid water brought to
shore for discharge to holding tanks, though some water
may be decanted at sea.
Bilge and ballast waters are also brought to shore,
requiring tanks which may hold over 100,000 barrels
(4,200,000 gallons), although some ballast changes may
be made at sea.
Oil/water separation occurs in. the receiving tank.
Oil is transferred to slop tanks in refineries (the same
tanks as previously discussed) for recovery. Water is
further purified in separators and/or biox systems.
Increases in future crude demand will find considerable
crude receipt at Gulf Coast refineries, requiring some
changes in marine oil practices. Foreign flag tankers
carrying black oil (crude) are generally cleaned only once
in 5-10 years, but contaminated water has normally been
discharged at sea.
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SIC MAJOR GROUP 46 — Pipelines, Except Natural Gas
Common carrier of petroleum products and crude with a
thruput for 1973 of over 200,000 barrels per day. Major
types transported include premium gasoline, regular gasoline,
#1 heating oil, #2 heating oil, kerosene, naphtha, JP—4
jet fuel and crude. Sources and disposition of waste oils
are:
1. Oil recovery from terminals which have oil—
water separators -— waste oil is returned to
slop tank.
2. Oil resulting from tank cleaning -- hauled
away by a contractor.
3. Contaminated water withdrawn periodically
from tanks -— hauled away by a contractor.
4. Oil spills -— spills have been on the order
of 1% of the total thruput. Recoverable
portions of spills are recovered and re-
turned to slop tanks, while in some cases
a large amount evaporates (gasoline).
5. Virtually no loss of interface oils occur.
They are small in quantity and are blended
off gradually into suitable products.
6. Slop tank oils are blended gradually into
suitable products.
7. Losses are being minimized by shutting
down and replacing older lines, and by im-
proved preventive measures against line
breakage by outside contractors.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 33 - Primary Metal Industries
One large steel plant might purchase the following
yearly quantities of oils and lubricants:
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Absorbent oils 150,000 gal.
Maintenance and hydraulic oils 500,000 gal.
Motor oils 4,000 gal.
Rust preventative & slushing
oils 200,000 gal.
Transmission fluids, gear oils
& compounds 200,000 gal. +
400,000 lbs.
Rolling oils, including animal
& vegetable fats and oils 2,500,000 lbs.
Open gear compounds 20,000 lbs.
Maintenance greases 250,000 lbs.
In addition, many plants purchase synthetic oils, and
metal working compounds and oils (including those
containing fats, sulfur and chlorine).
Absorbent oil, used for recovering light oils from
coke ovens, is recycled but the makeup quantity leaves
the steel plant with a heavy light oil fraction.
Considerable recycle of cold rolling oils is practiced,
with the quantity of recycle often the same order of
magnitude as the purchased oil shown above. Some hydraulic
oils and other used oils which can be isolated are re-
claimed both within plants and by outside contractors.
For example, transformer oil is sometimes recycled by
filtering, dewatering, and “active earth” treatment.
Reclaiming has expanded with current oil shortages.
Some waste oils and sludges are disposed of to con-
tractors who landfill or burn them. For example, these
include some acid and tar sludges from coke oven operations,
waste soluble cutting oils, waste fuels, and other
contaminated waste oils.
In general, waste oils which are diluted with water,
from mills and other operations, are sluiced to sewers
and thence central wastewater treatment facilities. Other
waste oils are collected in large portable containers to
be reclaimed for fuel or other uses.
Oil from the wastewater system is often skimmed and
reclaimed for rolling oil or fuel use by cooking, acid
treating, or other processing. Further treatment of waste—
water by lime, aeration, and sedimentation yields waste
solids containing some residual oil, which is concentrated
to about 30% solids and disposed of by landfill.
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Lagoonin.g of sludges is being phased out. Sludqes
from rolling mills ontain con sideraole iron and anvw iere
from traces of oil to 30% oil. Some plans are beine nade
to incinerate certain sludges (i.e. to burn the oil nit
and vaporize water)before feeding to sinter plants.
Not. all steel plants have adequate was-tewater
facilities with oil recovery, but these are gradually
being updated to meet new standards.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 27 — Printing, Publishing, and Allied
Industries
A fleet of over 100 coir anv owned gasoline engine
trucks are self serviced. Waste oil is collected ir. a
250 gallon tank and removed by a waste oil dealer who
reprocesses the oil, prorabJaT to fuel use. Some additional
diesel trucks are leased and serviced by the leasor, who
also transfers waste oil to a collector.
About 200 gallons per month of oil find use in gear-
boxes, and in drip feed to a compressed air systen for
air cylinders. About 5 gallons per month of a viscous
emulsified rnoly oil is used for chair. conveyors. Oil is
drained and recovered only upon failure of equipment.
About 300—400 gallons per veer is so recovered, put into
drums, and transferred to a collector. Some oil is lost
to rags which are used 1 with soivnnts, to clean presses
and machinery. These are returned to a laundry.
Another source of oil in high speed letter press print-
ing is the oil mist which leaves the presses and is e-
covered by a combination vacuum/centrifugal filtr tiTa-
system. This oil, which amounts to less than fl : . che
ink used, is recycled to the ink (85% minera ail/15%
carbon black). Ink oils are eventually last, of course,
with the printed paper. Letter presses may use about 35-37
lbs. of ink per ton of newsprint7 letter presses about 2/3
of this quantity.
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SIC MAJOR GROUP 40 - Railroad Transportation
Purchases of lubrication oils and greases totalled
7,249,668 gallons in 1973. The major purchases, by type,
are as follows:
Over 500,000 gallons diesel engine crankcase oil
Over 30,000 gallons SAE 1OW—30 lubrication oil
Over 1,000,000 gallons non-additive journal oil
About 10,000 gallons SAE 90 gear grease
Over 50,000 gallons bearing grease
Over 200,000 gallons roller bearing grease
Over 10,000 gallons insulation oils
Over 50,000 pounds ‘asphalt’ gear grease
Over 200,000 pounds flange grease
Over 100,000 gallons reclaimed diesel crankcase oil
In 1973 over 600,000 gallons of car journal oil and
over 160,000 gallons of diesel engine crankcase oils were
reclaimed by outside waste oil re—refiners. Proper re-
claiming has been a problem.
Waste oil reclaiming and disposal practices are:
1. Locomotive diesel engine crankcase oil — usually
reclaimed and re—fortified with additives for
reuse as diesel crankcase oil (by outside re—
ref iner)
2. Spilled or contaminated fuel oil - spillage
from refueling operations (over 100 locations)
is captured in fiberglass drip pans. It is
generally sold to scrap dealers, but some is
filtered and returned to storage for the
original intended use. The latter is the
recommended approach and is being promoted.
3. Mixed scrap oil from oil/water separators —
mostly spilled fuel oil, sludges from tank
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cleanings, or other waste oils that have
not been segregated for re-refining. These
are usually sold to scrap dealers. Attempts
are being made to recover some by filtration
or other methods.
Small quantities are being blended into No. 6 fuel oil
and burned at two locations.
The following impurities were mentioned as present in
waste oils:
1. Crankcase oil — soot, fuel oil, water,
oxidation products.
2. Fuel oil - dirt and water.
3. Mixed scrap oil - dirt, water, detergents.
Detergents which contaminate waste oils were noted to in-
crease difficulty in reclamation.
Detailed information by specific location was unobtain-
able.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 65 - Real Estate
The company contacted provides maintenance services for
large office and residential buildings. Their policy, in
brief, is to dispose of the small amount of waste oils
generated to trash collection. Approximately 3 gallons per
year is crankcase oil drained from a back—up diesel gene-
rator, and 10-15 gallons per year is lubrication oil from
the turbine drive in the central air-conditioning system.
All other systems are self—contained or are under a service—
contract with the manufacturer (e.g. elevators, cooling
towers, and transformers).
SIC MAJOR GROUP 30 — Rubber & Miscellaneous Plastics Products
The following purchases of oils were reported for the
company’s many plants throughout the United States:
1. Crankcase oil used for vehicular gasoline
engines - 1,200 gallons per month.
2. Crankcase oil used for vehicular diesel
engines - 1,125 gallons per month.
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3. Oil for stationary machine lubrication —
620,000 gallons per month.
4. Soluble and emulsified oils — 6,200 gallons
per month.
5. Other metal working oils — 1,000 gallons per
month.
6. Insulation oils — 1,350 gallons per month.
7. Hydraulic oils — 33,750 gallons per month.
8. Oil used as a raw material in processing —
1,412,000 gallons per month.
The general waste oil disposal practice, for all plants,
is to use industrial waste oils, excluding crankcase drain—
ings and other badly contaminated oils, for fuel. An esti-
mated 150,000 gallons per month, 90,000 gallons of which are
a by-product from a chemical process, are disposed of in
this manner. At one plant alone, 5,000—7,000 gallons per
week of waste oils are filtered and added to the fuel supply.
Waste oils that are not used as fuel are collected in
55 gallon drums and hauled to landfill sites by conu’nercial
disposal services. The fee paid for this service is about
10 cents per gallon. These oils include crankcase drainings
from material handlers, oils skimmed from API oil/water
separators, and oils that cannot be segregated in—plant and
become contaminated, preventing their use as a fuel. Crank-
case, transmission, or other oils cOntaining additives
seem to cause plating problems in the plant boilers when
used as fuels.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 32 - Stone, Clay, Glass and Concrete
Products
Six typical plants of the company contacted reported
purchases of lubricating, hydraulic, and process oils of over
40,000 gallons in 1973, for vehicles, mining equipment, etc.
A breakdown on the types of oils and their specific applica-
tions was not available. All waste oils are collected,
stored and, disposed of in one of three ways:
a) disposal via a local waste oil collector accounts
for the bulk of the waste oils generated in the
six plants.
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b) burning of industrial waste oils in plant
boilers (small quantity).
c) flushing down pLan t drains, whare oil is
later separated (oil/water separators in. waste—
water treatment system) and disposed of with
the other oils being hauled away by a collector.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 21 - Tobacco Manufactures
The bulk of waste oils generated from tobacco processing
activities are from transmissions, gear motors, and machine
tool coolants. Their waste oil disposal and reclamation
practices in 1972 were as follows:
?5,000 gallons reclaimed
2,000 gallons given away
>78,000 gallons hauled away by a commercial dis—
posal company
600 gallons to landfill by commercial disposal
service.
This totals 86,000 gallons of waste oils accounted for out
of 90,000 gallons of lubricating, hydraulic, and cutting
oils purchased in 1972.
The commercial disposal service previously charged
$3.50 per barrel of waste oil and returned the barrel. Now
it charges $8.25 per barrel and keeps the barrel. These
new costs caused the company to look for new disposal methods,
at long-life coolants and self-treating facilities.
As a result, the company policy for disposal of waste
oils has changed since 1972. Now all waste oils are drained,
collected, and given to a subsidiary for use as fuels, ex-
cept if the oils are wet, very fouled, or volatile.
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SIC MAJOR GROUP 45 - Transportation By Air
Waste oils are generated both. at airports and central
maintenance centers. Some typical airport examples are:
1. Aircraft sumping - 500 gallons per month turbine
fuel scheduled and non—routine for maintenance
purposes, for one airline at one airport.
2. Facilities and dispensing vehicle sumping - 300
gallons per month turbine fuel for one airline
at one airport.
3. Ramp spills — seldom exceeds 35 gallons turbine
fuel per spill. However, hydrant failure has,
in one known instance, caused an approximate
2,000 gallon spill. No predictable average.
Leaks, spills, failures of other fluids from
aircraft and ground vehicles are insignificant
until total accumulation is washed off by rain.
4. Loading facility spills - with dry type dis-
connects, do not expect monthly spills to exceed
20 gallons total turbine fuel. Accidents or
carelessness have caused 200 gallon spills.
5. Gasoline — may have occasional small leaks
which contribute to ramp pollution, but generally
no problem.
6. Petroleum based lubricants (engine and transmission)
— 500 gallons per month for one airline at one
airport.
7. Heavy petroleum based greases — 160 lbs. per
month for one airline at one airport.
8. Deicing fluids - usage varies drastically from
year to year and from one location to another,
but during one 24—hour period in a major northern
airport, 100,000 gallons of fluid were used.
9. Synthetic lubricants - one airline at one airport
might use up to 150 gallons per month. Total
airline system might use 40,000—50,000 gallons
yearly.
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10. Aircraft exterior and ground support equipment
washing and cleaning compounds - 25,500 gallons
per year before dilution, or up to 250,000
gallons per year after dilution with water.
Recommended methods for handling fluid spills follows:
Type of Fluid Disposition Method
Turbine Fuel &
Petroleum Solvents Large spills (over 50 square
feet of wetted area) -
Water flush to a safe
collection area where the
fuel may be mechanically
separated from the water and
picked up by refuse collector.
Small spills (under 50 square
feet of wetted area) -
Pick up with filter clay or
absorbents and burn or hold
for refuse collector.
Gasoline Large spills (over 50 square
feet of wetted area) -
Block the spill area from
motorized traffic. Notify
airport fire department.
Water flush to safe collection
area where the fluid may be
mechanically separated from
the water and picked up by
refuse collector.
Small spills (under 50 square
feet of wetted area) —
Pick up with filter clay or
absorbents and remove to a
safe area to burn or
evaporate.
Petroleum & Synthetic Pick up with filter clay or
Oil & Petroleum other absorbent and burn or
Hydraulic Fluids hold for refuse collector.
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Type of Fluid Disposition Method
Synthetic Hydraulic Spills — pick up with filter
Fluids clay or other absorbent and
hold for refuse collector.
Drained — store in 55 gallon
drums. Laboratory tests
will determine reusability:
1. Reusable: Filter and
return to service.
2. Reclaimable: Send to
manufacturer for credit
on new fluid.
3. Non-reclaimable: Hold
for pickup by refuse
collector.
Chlorinated Solvents Pick up with absorbents and
remove to safe open air
area for evaporation.
Toilet Germicides & Pick up lavatory spills with
Toilet Wastes scrub brush-equipped tractor
vacuum unit with brushes in
raised position. Following
removal of waste, brush scrub
and revacuum the area. Dis-
charge the waste through
triturator to sanitary sewer.
Deicers & Antifreeze Flush to storm drain with
(Ethylene Glycol based) large quantities of water to
provide thorough dilution.
Contaminated fuels are sold for fuel value, for
example, No. 2 fuel oil. Contaminants are minor, but may
include aviation gasoline and microbial contamination, but
little or no water. Other waste oils are generally picked
up by a collector. However, as can be seen from the
previous discussion, considerable oil and deicing fluids
may enter airport wastewater systems, with proper disposal
depending upon the adequacy of those system. Little firm
data is available, but discussions with airport officials
raise doubts as to the present effectiveness of airport
wastewater treatment, usually controlled by independent
authorities.
280
-------
The central maintenance facility collects most waste
oils from wastewater recovery and other sources in a
waste oil tank (about 2000 gallons), but other waste
oils from shops, the test cell, and ground equipment is
collected in 55 gallon drums. A total of about 1000 gallons
per month of oil—type fluids is picked up by a collector at
a cost to the airline of $150. per month. About 400,000
gallons per day of wastewater effluent is injected into a
high pressure deep well approved for that purpose.
281
-------
SIC MAJOR GROUP 37 - Transportation Equipment
The metal fabricating company contacted has had an on-
going program of oily waste treatment and recovery for many
years. During the past year they reclaimed 19 million
gallons of oil. About 40% was used for lubrication and
about 60% for fuel.
A low quality recovered oil is provided from one source
to a public utility which uses it as fuel to generate
power. Other plants use recovered oil for fuel in boilers,
in forge furnaces, or reconstitute the oil themselves, or
through an outside service, for manufacturing operations.
They claim not to dispose of recoverable oil to waste.
A general description of the waste oil recovery process
that is used in several plants follows:
An equalizing and holding tank is used as an in-plant col-
lection system. The tank is divided into compartments to
provide a semi-fill and draw procedure which equalizes the
waste. They have a 16 to 24 hour residence time to provide
filling and gravity separation of the oil. In some plants
new corrugated plate separators have been installed in the
raw waste line to remove the bulk of free oil and solids
prior to the holding tanks.
Influent waters vary in oil content from 2,000 to 5,000
mg/l. About 90% of this oil separates by gravity and can be
removed as “free oil.” In some cases this oil can be re-
used as cutting oil without further processing. However,
the major portion of this oil contains some emulsifier and
water which forms an invert emulsion layer. The free oil is
pumped to a lead lined evaporator where this emulsion is
broken by heat, sulfuric acid, and occasionally de—emul—
sifying agents. After settling, a three phase separation
occurs — oil, acid water, and a rag or scum interface layer.
The acid water is used for pH control of the raw waste
or final effluent. The rag layer is recooked. The re-
sulting oil is equivalent to No. 4 fuel oil. Some nine
million gallons of this oil is recovered annually by the
plants employing this type of waste oil treatment. The oil
is utilized in general for fuel in boilers and forge furnaces.
The oily wastewater in the lower portion of the holding
tank is pumped to a mix tank where, after polymer injection
at the pump intake, alum is added in dosages of 25-50 mg/l.
282
-------
The treated waste is fed by gravity to a dissolved air
flotation cell where the floc formed is removed. The
effluent overflows to a third mix tank where pH adjust-
ments may be made to dispose of excess acid. The float
or scum oil is pumped to a cooker and treated similarily
to the free oil. The effluent water is run through a
clarifier and discharged.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 47 - Transportation Services
The company contacted is a conglomerate of smaller
trucking firms throughout the United States. One typical
company owns and operates 110 diesel trucks.
They purchase 2,600 gallons of multi-viscosity SAE
1OW—30 crankcase oil and 40 gallons of hydraulic oil per
year. The trucks, which have either Detroit or Cummings
diesel engines and have a crankcase capacity of approxi-
mately 10 gallons, are serviced every 15,000 miles. The
drain oils are stored in a 550 gallon waste oil tank and
hauled away every two months by a waste oil collector.
They claim to pay 33 per gallon for this service. An esti—
mated 1,800 gallons of waste oil per year is disposed of
in this manner.
Engines and parts are cleaned by steam in a maintenance
shop. The wastewater from the cleaning operations is
washed down the city sewer. They could not estimate the
amount of water or oil and grease content discharged as
there is no wastewater pre—treatment involved.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 44 - Water Transportation
The company contacted owns and operates several turbine
driven, containerized cargo ships.
Lubrication oil for the turbines (marine oil, non-
detergent) is circulated through a ‘Sharples’ oil purifier,
which removes water, dirt, and metal particles by fil-
tration and centrifuging. The oil is then held in a sump
and returned to the turbine as required. Approximately
1,700 gallons per turbine are recycled in this manner. Any
other spilled or reclaimable oils from drips, etc , on board
ship are returned or added to this system. Oils that are
not reclaimable by this purification system (drain oils
from back—up generators, air compressor oils, vent traps)
are blended into Bunker tanks and burned in the boilers.
283
-------
This amounts to approximately 15 gallons per year per
vessel. Cutting oils from the shop are reused or are dis—
posed of in cleaning rags that go out with the trash.
The bulk of waste oils generated from shore side
operations would be from motor vehicles which are leased
and serviced under contract. Disposal and reclamation
practices for waste or spilled oils on board the vessels
are as follows:
Oil Pollution
Effective July 1, 1974 all vessels will be subject to
the “Clean Water Act” while in the continental boundaries
and contingency zones of the United States. This area ex-
tends fifteen miles off shore and encompasses all waters
therein.
There is no mathematical designation as to the amount
of oil that constitutes pollution. The law states:
DISCHARGE OF OIL PROHIBITED
The Federal Water Pollution Control Act
prohibits the discharge of oil or oily
waste into or upon the navigable waters
and contiguous zone of the United States
if such discharge causes a film or sheen
upon, or discoloration of, the surface of
the water, or causes a sludge or emulsion
beneath the surface of the water. Vio—
lators are subject to a penalty of $5,000.
It is the company’s desire that all vessels will comply
immediately without waiting until the effective date. The
following practices will be instituted immediately:
Bilge Pumping
All vessels will pump bilges dry before entering the
contingence zone. No bilges are to be pumped while in port.
In an emergency, or due to some unusual circumstances
that requires any bilge pumping in U. S. ports, it will be
discharged into a slop barge or to a holding tank aboard.
Your vessel is permanently piped to take suction from
bilges and discharge through the oily ballast system into
any tank. The smallest fuel oil tank aboard should be used
284
-------
as the holding tank. It is not the intent that this
holding procedure will be used routinely. Any time con-
ditions require its use the home office, is to be notified.
When this tank is discharged the home office is again to be
notified in order to be aware at all times of your bunker
capacity.
It will be necessary to install an interrupting stop
button adjacent to the filling stations to stop the ap-
propriate bilge pump that is piped to discharge to the
filling line. A separate directive will cover this in-
stallation.
Upon departure from U. S. Ports if the Watch Engineer
desires to pump bilges he shall call the Bridge to ascertain
that the vessel is outside the contingence zone and shall
log the fact in the Engine Room Log.
If your vessel is equipped with automatic bilge pumps
they shall be secured at all times the vessel is within the
contingency zone.
Cargo Oil
If your vessel is fitted with cargo oil tanks, the U.S.
Coast Guard Certification of these tanks is being withdrawn
and the tanks henceforth will be classed dry cargo or
ballast.
Bunkering
The new laws covering transfer of oil from dock to
vessel or from vessel to vessel are very explicit as to the
steps to be taken. It is not the intent to paraphase them
at this time. The laws are contained in U. S. Coast Guard
publication CG-257 titled “Rules and Regulations for Cargo
and Miscellaneous Vessels”, Subchapter 1 dated April 1,
1973.
Some of the interpretation follows:
Oil shall be taken under the supervision of “Person in
Charge”. This shall be the Chief Engineer.
1. Declaration of Inspection
Attached are copies of the “Declaration of
Inspection” based on 33 CFR 156.150 and 46
285
-------
CFR 35.35—30. This check list is to
be jointly checked off and signed by the
receiver and deliverer who will be respon-
sible for the areas each has checked. The
person signing the “Declaration of In-
spection” becomes the “person in charge”
as defined by the law. This shall be the
Chief Engineer. This certificate shall be
held on board for thirty (30) days.
2. Containment of Vents, Overflows and Filling
Lines
On vessels constructed prior to July 1, 1974
it will be acceptable by the U. S. Coast
Guard when bunkering to have a bucket of at
least five gallon capacity secured to each
vent. While the law states they shall be
eighteen inches high it has been clarified
with the U. S. Coast Guard that paint buckets
will suffice even though they do not meet
the required height.
On filling stations and where the dianieter of
the vent does not make it practicable to use
paint buckets it is suggested that thirty
or fifty gallon barrels be adapted. While
it is not required, the company suggests that
all goosenecks from fuel tanks and a ship
set of containment buckets be painted red
and that the ship’s set of buckets be used
for no other purpose.
It is recognized that on some vessels the
arrangement of the vents on deck are such
that a containment bucket can not be affixed.
When this condition is found, structural
changes can be made prior to July 1, 1974.
3. Transfer Procedure Manual
Transfer Procedure Manuals for each class of
vessels are being prepared and will be
forwarded to your vessel. This manual shall
be kept in the Engine Room log desk.
286
-------
4. Required Personnel and Their Duties
Specific duties and required personnel are
required during any transfer of oil, dock
to vessel or vessel to vessel.
Chief Engineer — “Person in Charge” who
shall fill out and sign the Declaration
of Inspection.
Second Engineer — In Engine Room in charge
of all manifolds.
I
One (1) Engine Department member at filling
station to communicate with deliverer.
On Deck one (1) Officer and one (1) seaman
to tend lines.
In addition to the five required personnel such other
ship’s personnel as may be deemed necessary by the “Person
in Charge”.
Placard
Your vessel is being furnished with two (2) decals with
wording required by law to be affixed to a metal plate and
permanently mounted. In the Engine Room, one shall be ad-
jacent to the bilge and ballast pump control station and one
at a convenient location on the Bridge.
Plugging Scuppers
Nothing in the above mentioned regulations relieves the
requirement that all scuppers and deck drains be plugged.
Reporting Oil Spills or Pollution
In the event of any pollution while in port,the U. S.
Coast Guard in the port you are in is to be immediately
notified.
While the above touch upon pollution through fixed
piping it should be borne in mind that anything ernminating
from the vessel that causes “a film or sheen or discolo-
ration” is considered by law to be pollution from the
vessel.
287
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SIC MAJOR GROUP 50 - Wholesale Trade/Durable Goods
The company contacted leases 50 vehicles which are all
serviced under contract. They claim to generate no waste
oils from their buildings, maintenance or other operations.
SIC MAJOR GROUP 51 - Wholesale Trade/Non-Durable Goods
The bulk of waste oil generation is from motor vehicle
maintenance. Eight trucks (gas and diesel) are owned and
serviced by the company. The waste oils are drained and
stored in 55 gallon drums to be hauled away be a scavenger,
at a fee of 2—3 per gallon.
The company claimed to generate no other waste oils
from maintenance or manufacturing operations.
288
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APPENDIX F
WASTE OIL MATERIAL BALANCE METHODOLOGY
289
-------
FIGURE F—i U.S. CRUDE OIL DISTRIBUTION +
Crude Oil Imports
25,800”’
Crude Oil
Production
145, lOO ’
(Millions of Gallons Per Year)
Re-refined
Oils From
Figure F-3
2,
1,
2, 944 7
487 ‘
_____ 2, 23 4L9)
To gure
F-2
1, 365
To Figure
F—2
* By difference
4- See Table F-i for key to data sources
Crude & Refined
Products Exports
3.431’ 2)
0
Liquid Oils Consurnptioi
as Fuel & Chemicals*
224,i53 ’ “
Sales of Lubricating
& Process Oils
2, 72l ’
Refined Products
Imports
34. 300
Total Petroleum
Liquids
231, i0O
2 2
Oil Spills —
Mar in e
22
Natural Gas
Liquids Produced
25 ,90d”
s I
Oil losses in Produc-
tion, Refining, Trans
portation, and Use
1, l56
-------
FIGURE F—2
WASTE OIL GENERATION *
(Millions of Gallons Per Year)
2.23 4(
From
Figure F-:
3. Other
Industrial Oil
Sales
377(2 3)
1. Automotive
Lubricating Oil
Sales
l,O86 ‘
6l6 ’)
dlO
ri
148
B 3
19
142
105
202
D 1
C 1
2. Industrial &
Aviation Lubri-
cating Oil Sales
734(2 2
J 394(27 )
340
41
A 2
112 - B 2
25 C,
ic
_ 130
;
2
F 2
-
290
41
I
25
3
E 3
28
4. U.S. Government
Lubricating
Oil Sales
37(2 ¼)
19 A
3 B
4
D
— ;i
4
4
3
E
4
F 4
1.365@
From
Figure F-i
5. Oil Losses &
Spills
1, 365 ’
365
0
690
Bc
66
D 5
199
it
E,.
399
-,
Fç
4 -I
A Consumed as lubricating oil, fuel or other use by the original
purchaser/user.
B = Potentially discharged to the environment (land or water)
C = Used as road or dust control oils
D = Used as fuel or for other purposes
E = Sent to lubricating oil re-refiner
F = Sent to waste oil processor
* See Table F—l for key to data sources
291
-------
FIGURE F-3 WASTE OIL DISPOSAL *
A 1 470 (Millions of Gallons Per Year)
A 2 340
290 1.119 Consumption
19 (31)
B 1 148 _______________________
b 2 112 ______
— 2 ‘
25 _________________
B 5 690 978 To The Environment 4
( 2
B 4 3
1,331<
C 1 142 28l(
C 3 6 _____________
25 243 Road Oiling, Dust
C 4 4
________________ ( 33J Control, Asphalt
3 9(3I
C5 66 ________________________
19 _______________________
111 Fuel & Other Uses
D 3 358
D 4 1,o28 ’° )
D c gg ______________________
105 ________________________
E2 16 Lubricating Oil ____
E3 138 Rerefiners 1 83’ °
E4 3 — (2 ) 138 ’
E 5 _____________________
202 _______________
763 Waste Oil Processors 763’
_ f3 - _____ ___
4 (ii) 763( )
399 ______________________
83
Rerefined Auto 1 erefined Indus- j tRerefined Indus—
i s
‘ubricating Oils L Lubricating
L 7O(52 _________________ jtriai Other Oils
2
11 (S 3)
__ 8 3(SS) I I
To Figure F-i
* See Table r—1 for key to
data sources
292
-------
TABLE F-i. KEY TO SOURCES OF DATA
IN FIGURES F-i, F-2, F-3
Data Item No. Source of Data Item
Table F—2
2 “ F—2
F—2
F—2
F—2
6 Figure F-3
By difference
8 By difference
Table F-4
1 0 F—5
11 H F—6
12 “ F—2
11 By difference
Table F-3
1 “ F—4
16 “ F—5
1 “ F—6
18 ‘ F—3
By difference, Table F-3
20 By addition
21 Table F—3
22 F—3
23 F—3
2’+ “ F—3
2 By addition
26 Table F-7
27 “ F—9
28 “ F—lO
29 ‘I F—li
30 By addition
31 By addition, F-12
32 By addition
By addition
By addition
Table F-14
36 ‘ F—15
F—12
38 “ F—22
By additiOn
By addition
293
-------
TABLE F-i (Continued)
Data Item No. Source of Data Item
41 Table F-14
42 “ F—15
F—22
F—18
F—14
46 F—18
F—18
48 “ F—14
F—14
50 “ F—14
5’ ‘ F—15
52 “ F—14
F— 14
F—14
F—14
A 1 By difference
A
A
3 H
- Table F-21
B 2 “ F—19
B, “ F—20
B “ F—li
B 5 “ F—17
C 1 “ F—21
C 2 “ F—19
C, “ F—20
C “ F—li
C “ F—17
F—21
F—19
F—20
F—il
D 5 “ F—17
E “ F—14
E 1 “ F—14
E 2 “ F—14
E “ F—14
E F—14
F 5 “ F—16
F’ “ F—16
F—16
F “ F—il
F 5 “ F—17
294
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TABLE F-2. SALIENT STATISTICS OF CRUDE
PETROLEUM, REFINED PRODUCTS AND NATURAL GAS
LIQUIDS IN U. S.-1971 PRELIMINARY DATA 86
Thousands of
42 Gal Barrels
Crude Petroleum Production 3,453,914
Crude Petroleum Imports 613,417
Refined Products Imports 817,204
Natural Gas Liquids Production 617,800
Total Liquids ( t1 Oi1s’ )
Produced and Imported ______
Crude Petroleum Exports
Refined Products Exports _________
Total Liquids ( t1 Oils”) Exported
Millions of
Gal/Yr
145,100
25,800
34,300
25,900
5,502 ,335
503
81,182
81,685
231, 100
21
3,410
3,431
295
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TABLE F-3. ESTIMATED LUBRICATING AND
INDUSTRIAL OIL SALES IN THE U.S. - 1970_7128
Millions of
Gal/Yr
Automotive Lubricating Oils 1086
Commercial engine oils — fleet
sales 200
Commercial engine oils — retail
sales 90
Factory fills, automotive and
farm 60
Private automobiles*,
automobile fleets, other 736
1086
Aviation Lubricating Oils B
Industrial Lubricating Oils 726
Hydraulic and circulating
system oils 325
Metalworking oils 150
Railroad engine oils 60
Gas engine oils 62
Other 129
726
Other Industrial Oils 377
Process oils 310
Electrical oils 57
Refrigeration oils 10
377
Federal Government 37
Exports 487
2721
* Approximately 600 million gal/yr. (45% = service
stations; 17% = car dealers; 10% = garages, auto
supply stores; 28% = mass marketers) •87
296
-------
TABLE F-4. ESTIMATED MARINE
OIL SPILLS — U.S. — 197288
Coast Guard reported oil spills in 1972:
8013 reports of 16.5 millions of gallons
Assume only 75% of spills were reported:
Estimated total marine spills 22 millions
of gallons
297
-------
Total
% of Total
Proj ect ions
to National
Basis
TABLE F-S. ESTIMATED MARINE OIL
LOSSES - U. S. 1971*
Port
Millions of Gallons/Xear of Oily Waste
Cargo Cargo Tanker
Bilge Ballast Washings Ballast
Waters
Tanker
Washings
New York
22.3
141.1
891.3
19.8
Totals
1078.0
3.5
Hampton Roads
Galveston
Texas City
Houston
14.2
6.7
1.0
25.2
86.4
23.1
0.6
66.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.9
0.0
0.0
272.0
1303.2
1.7
0.0
38.8
5.6
102.3
29.8
312.4
1401.1
San Diego
San Francisco
San Juan
2.2
7.1
3.6
11.6
63.5
58.7
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
524.7
14.4
0.0
2.5
13.0
13.8
597.8
89.7
I ”
Miami
Cleveland
St. Louis
1.3
205.8
1.3
22.0
9.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
2.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
23.3
214.7
3.3
290.7
482.2
6.4
3005.6
81.4
3866.2
7.5
12.5
0.17
77.73
2.1
100.00
14,888
* Harris Report
-------
Table F-5. (Continued)
Bilge
Cargo Ballast
Cargo Washings
Tanker Ballast
Tanker Washings _______
* In Ports Surveyed
** Nationally - By Applying %‘s
Estimates of Oil content of the
% Of Oil..
Bilge
Cargo Ballast
Cargo Washings
Tanker Ballast
Tanker Washings
Total:
Millions of Gal/Yr.
Of Oily Waste Water**
1117
1861
25
11572
313
14,888
to National Total
oily waste waters:
Content Source
Harris Report
Above, p. 4—18
As sumed
Assumed
(1) + (2)
Harris Report
Above, p. 4-18
Although Frederic R. Harris, Inc. is unwilling to make
the following calculations, RECON will do so as a
tlguesstimatetl:
Projections of Above Data to National
% of Total*
75
12.5
0.17
77.73
2.1
100.00
1.0
0.0
0.0
0.5—2.0
10 . 0
299
-------
Table F-5. (Continued)
(1) Harris Report above, p. 4-18 indicates 2%.
(2) Esso Report for Norfolk reports 0.1-1.0% — assume
average 0.5%.
Application of oil content to oily waste quantities:
Millions of Millions of
Gal/Yr Gal/Yr
Waste Water % Oil Waste Oil
Bilge 1117 1.0 11
Cargo Ballast 1861 0.0 0
Cargo Washings 25 0.0 0
Tanker Ballast 11572 l.25(avg.)145
Tanker Washings 313 10.0 31
14888 187
300
-------
TABLE F-6. ESTIMATE OF OIL LOSSES
AND SPILLS ON LAND, AND LOSSES FROM PROCESSING 197l*
Assume 0.5% of Total Liquids (“Oils ’
0.005 (231,100) 1156 Millions of Gal/Yr.
* Includes oils in waste waters.
+ See Table F-2
301
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TABLE F—7. ESTIMATED LUBE OIL SALES AND
WASTE OILS GENERATED AT AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE
CENTERS* 1970—1971
Sales Waste Waste Oil
Millions Oil Millions
of Gal/Yr. Factor± of Gal/Yr .
Automobiles in service
stations 270 0.63 170
Automobiles in garages
& auto supply stores 60 0.63 38
Automobiles at new car
dealers 102 0.90 92
Retail sales for
commercial engines 90 0.63 57
Automotive fleet and
other lube oil
uses ÷ 136 0.50 68
Sub—Total 658 425
Factory fills, auto-
motive and farm 60 0.90 54
Oil bought at discount
stores 168 0.22 37
Sub—Total 886 516
Commercial engine
Fleets 200 0.5 100
Totals 1086 616
± See Table F-8 for estimates of waste oil factors.
* Includes motor oils, transmission oils, hydraulic
oils, etc.
+ Marine, agricultural, etc.
302
-------
TABLE F-8. ESTIMATE OF FACTORS FOR
CONVERTING AUTOMOTIVE SALES TO
WASTE OIL QUANTITIES
Service Stations 2
70% of oil sold is used for changes.
Oil drained is 90% of filled capacity.
70% x 90% = 63% of oil sold — waste oil generated.
Garages and Auto Supply Stores
Assume average is same as service stations (63%).
New Car Dealers
100% of oil sold is used for changes.
Oil drained is 90% of filled capacity.
100% x 90% = 90% of oil sold = waste oil generated.
Retail Sales for Commercial Engines
Assume same as service stations (63%).
Automotive Fleet and Other Lube Oil Uses
Assume 50%, allowing for two—cycle engines and
internal use, e.g. fuel, by commercial and
governmental fleets.
Factory Fills, Automotive and Farm
Assume 90% recovery as in automotive service centers.
Oil Bought at Discount Stores
Assume same as service stations (63%).
Assume 35% of waste oil generated finds it way to
service stations .
63% x 35% = 22% of oil sold = waste oil generated at
service stations.
* Estimated by RECON SYSTEMS from information
obtained by Teknekron’
303
-------
TABLE F-9. GENERATION OF INDUSTRIAL
LUBRICATING WASTE OILS
Sales* Waste Oil
Lubricating Oils MM gal/yr. Factor MM gal/yr .
Hydraulic & circulating 325 0.42 137
system oils
Metalworking oils 150 0.7 105
Railroad engine oils 60 0.53 32
Gas engine oils 62 0.9 56
Aviation and other 137 0.47 ___
Totals 734 394
* Sources: See Table F—3.
304
-------
TABLE F-l0. GENERT TION OF
OTHER INDUSTRIAL WASTE OILS
Sales* Waste Oil
MM gal/yr. Factor MMgal/yr .
Process oils 310 0.1 31
Electrical oils 57 0.9 51
RefrigeratiOn oils 10 0.5 5
Totals 377 87
*gource: See Table F-3
305
-------
TABLE F-li-GENERATION OF U.S. GOVERNMENT
LUBRICATION WASTE OILS
Sa les* Waste Oil
MM gal/yr Factor MM gal/yr
37 0.5 18
Assume following distribution of the waste oil:
To the environment 3
For road oils & dust control 4
For fuel 4
To re—refiners 3
To reprocessors 4
18
* See Table F-3
306
-------
TABLE F—12. CONSUMPTION OF LUBRICATING OILS -
AS LUBRICATING OIL, FUEL, OR OTHER USES
BY ORIGINAL PURCHASER/USER
Assume Consumption = Sales — Waste Oil Generated
Sa les* — Waste Oil = Consumption
Auto Lubes 1086 — 616 = 470
Industrial & Aviation 734 - 394 = 340
Lubes
Other Industrial Oils 377 — 87 = 290
U.S. Government Lubes 37 - 18 = 19
2234 — 1115 = 1119
* From Table F-3.
+ From Tables F-7, 8, 9, 10, 11.
307
-------
TABLE F-13. WASTE LUBRICATING OIL REREFINERS
1973 PRODUCTION - RECON SYSTEMS SURVEY *
MGPY Other
Total Total MGPY MGPY Auto MGPY Industrial Industrial MGPY
Company GPD c 250D Lube Oils Lube Oils Oils Fuel
1 7,000 1,750 1,575 0 0 175
2 10,000 2,500 2,250 250 0 0
3 12,000 3,000 2,850 150 0 0
4 8,000 2,000 200 1,800 0 0
5 20,000 5,000 5,000 0 0 0
0
6 6,500 1,625 1,625 0 0 0
7 25,000 6,250 6,250 0 0 0
8 5,200 1,300 520 780 0 0
9 1,800 450 450 0 0 0
10 27,000 6,750 500 0 0 6,250
11 2,000 500 450 50 0 0
12 8,300 2,075 1,971 0 0 104
13 12,000 3,000 2,700 300 0 0
-------
TABLE F_13.(Cofltiflued)
MGPY Other
Total Total MGPY MGPY Auto MGP? Industrial Industrial MGPY
Company GPD @ 250D Lube Oils Lube Oils Oils Fuel
14 12,000 3,000 3,000 0 0 0
15 40,000 10,000 9,000 1,000 0 0
16 2,000 500 25 0 0 475
17 22,000 5,500 4,950 0 270 280
18 8,000 2,000 1,800 0 100 100
19 25,000 6,250 5,625 625 0 0
20 6,000 1,500 1,500 0 0 0
21 8,000 2,000 1,800 200 0 0
22 3,000 750 75 0 0 675
23 2,500 625 593 32 0 0
24 4,000 1,000 1,000 0 0 0
25 4,000 1,000 1,000 0 0 0
26 2,000 500 500 0 0 0
27 Strictly a fuel processor
-------
Total
_______ GPD
4,000
6,000
6,000
5,000
12,500
5,000
1,900
10, 000
333,700
Assuming
90% coverage
of the industry:
371,000
Total MGPY
@ 250D
1,000
1,500
1,500
1,250
3,125
1,250
475
2,500
83,425
0
1,350
0
2,969
0
0
125
62,653
MGPY Other
Industrial
Oils
0
0
150
0
0
1,250
475
0
2,245
MGPY
Fuel
0
0
0
625
0
0
0
0
8,684
* G D = gallons per day; GPY gallons per year; MGPY = thousands of gallons per year.
250 D = 250 days per year.
company
28
29
30
31
32
33
I -i
0
34
35
TABLE F—13 (continued)
MGPY Auto MGPY Industrial
Lube Oils Lube Oils —
1,000 0
1,500
0
625
156
0
0
2, 375
9,843
93,000 70,000 11,000 2,000
10,000
-------
TABLE F-14-- ESTIMT TE OF FEEDSTOCKS TO
WASTE LUBRICATING OIL REREFINERS *
A. Product: Rerefined Auto Lubes 70 MM GPY
Assume plant yield = 65%
Feed 108 MM GPY (assume 3 MM GPY from U.S.
government, 105 MM GPY from
other auto sources)
B. Product: Industrial Lubes 11 MM GPY
Assume plant yield = 70%
Feed = 16 MM GPY
C. Product: Other Industrial Oils 2 MM GPY
Assume plant yield = 70%
Feed 3 MM GPY
D. Product: Fuel 10 MM GPY
Assume plant yield = 90%, and also
Feed = 11 MM GPY
SuznmarI :
Auto Lube Oils 105 MM GPY
u.s. Government Lube Oils 3 MM GPY
Industrial Lithe Oils 16 MM GPY
Other Industrial Oils 3 MM GPY
Spills & Losses 11 MM GPY
Total Feed 138 MM GP
Less Products (A,B,C) 83 MM GPY
Less Internal Fuel Use 11 MM GPY
Less Fuel Sales (D) 10 MM GPY
To Environment MM GPY
* MM GPY = Millions of gallons per year
Product quantities from Table F-13
311
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TABLE F-15 . ESTIMATION OF
TOTAL FEEDSTOCK TO REPROCESSORS
From Tables F-8 thru F-12, Total Waste Oil =
1115 MM GPY
From A. D. Little Report 2 , about 45% of Auto and indus-
trial waste oils is estimated to be reprocessed.
Reprocessed Oil = 0.45 (1115) = 502 MM GPY
From Table F-14, Feedstock to Rerefiners = 138 MM GPY
Feedstock to Reprocessors from these sources
= 502 - 138 = 364 MM GPY
From Table F-17, Feedstock from Spills & Losses
= 399
Total Feedstock to Reprocessors = 763 MM GPY
312
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TABLE F-16. ESTIMATION OF INDIVIDUAL
FEEDSTOCKS TO WASTE OIL PROCESSORS
From Table F-15,
Feedstock from auto , industrial, U.S. Government,
waste oils = 364 MM GPY
From Table F-li, Waste oil from U. S. Government 4 MM GPY
•. From auto, industrial = 360 MM GPY
Assume same proportion of oil from each of these
sources goes to reprocessors
Waste Oil
to
Waste Oil % to Reprocessors
auto lube oils 616 56.2 202
industrial lube oils 394 35.9 130
other industrial oils 87 7.9 28
1097 100.0 360 MM GPY
313
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TABLE F-17. DESTINATION OF
SPILLS AND LOSSES
From Tables F—4,5,6, Spills and Losses = 1365 MM GPY
It is speculated that 80% of marine oil spills remain
in environment. 88 Assume 0.8 (22) = 18 MM GPY.
Recon guesses that 50% of land, marine, and processing
losses and land spills (see Tablet F’5,6) are entering
the environment = 0.5 (187 + 1156) = 672 MM GPY
From Table F-14, amount to rerefiners = 11 MM GPY
.. By difference, assume balance goes to reprocessors
road oils, and directly to fuel 664 MM GPY
1365 MM GPY
Of the 664 MM GPY, assume:
To Road Oils , asphalt 10% 66 MM GPY
To Fuels 30% 199 MM GPY
To Waste Oil Processors 60% 399 MM GPY
Total 100% 664 MM GPY
314
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TABLE F-18.ESTIMATION OF
PRODUCTION OF WASTE OIL PROCESSORS
80% of production to fuel sales
0.8 x 763
10% of production for road oil
and asphalt
5% of production for internal
fuel use
5% of production to the environ-
ment
* From Table F-15.
Assume :
=
611MMGPY
=
76MMGPY
=
38MMGPY
=
38 MGPY
763
MM
GPY*
315
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TABLE F-19- ESTIMATE OF DESTINATION OF
INDUSTRIAL LUBRICATING WASTE OILS
From Table F-12, Total industrial lubricating
waste oil = 394 MM GPY
From Table F16, Amount to Reprocessors 130 MM GPY
From Table F-14, Amount to Reprocessors 16 MM GPY
.. Amounts to environment, road oils,
and fuel 248 MM GPY
Guess at distribution :
___ MMGPY
To Environment 45 112
For Road Oils,
Asphalt 10 25
For Fuel 45 111
100 24B
316
-------
TABLE F-20. ESTIMATE OF DESTINATION
OF OTHER INDUSTRIAL WASTE OILS
MM GPY
From Table F-12, total other industrial
waste oil = 87
From Table F—16, amount to reprocessors = 28
From Table F—14., amount to re—refiners = 3
Amount to environment, road oils,
and fuel = 56
Guess at Distribution:
% MMGPY
To Environment 45 25
For Road Oils ,
Asphalt 10 6
For Fuel 45 25
100 56
317
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TABLE F-21. ESTIMATE OF DESTINATION
OF AUTOMOTIVE LUBRICATING OILS
From Table F-l2., total automotive waste oil = 616 MM GPY
From Table F-16, amount to reprocessors = 202
From Table F-14, amount to re—refiners 105
.. Amount to environment, road oil and fuel = 309
From A. D. Little Report 2 , it is estimated that
about 23% goes for road oil and dust control =142
.. To the environment and fuel = 167
. .Froin A. D. Little Report 2 , assume 24 o
total auto waste oil is uncollected
and goes to the environment = 148
• .Axnount directly to fuel = 19
318
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TABLE F-22. ESTIMATE OF WASTE OIL
POTENTIALLY ENTERING THE ENVIRONMENT
MM GPY
From Table Source Amount
F-21 Auto lube oils 148
F—19 Industrial lube oils 112
F—20 Other industrial oils 25
F-il U.S. Government lube oils 3
F—17 Losses & Spills 690
F-14 Lube oil rerefiriing 34
F-18 Waste oil reprocessing 38
Figure F—3 Road oils (O.88*x 319) 281
Total 1331 MM GPY
* Estimated from EPA tata. 33
319
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APPENDIX G
HEALTH AND SAFETY ASPECTS OF RE-REFINING
PROCESS EFFLUENTS
Page
Acid Sludge 321
Spent Clay 325
Caustic Sludge 326
Distillation Bottoms, etc. 32
Volatiles, Vapors 326
Noise 327
Other Safety Considerations 327
320
-------
HEALTH AND SAFETY ASPECTS OF RE—REFINING
PROCESS EFFLUENTS
Although the following discussion deals with health
and safety aspects of re—refining effluents, much of the
data is applicable to the waste oils directly. In additions,
some industrial waste oils, e.g. chlorinated bipheny]. type
transformer oils are inherently hazardous.
The Occupational Safety and Health Standards, Sax’s
“Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials”, and other
suitable references 81,82,63 should be consulted for
specific situations.
ACID SLtJDGE
In general, acid sludge exhibits the same health and
safety aspects as does virgin sulfuric acid. Specifically,
it is corrosive, carries a white label (Coast Guard, ICC,
and IATA Classifications), and has the following Hazard
Analysis:
Toxic Hazard Rating:
Acute Local: Irritant 3; Ingestion 3; Inhalation 3.
Acute Systemic: U.
Chronic Local: Irritant 2; Inhalation 2.
Chronic Systemic: U.
TLV: ACGIH (recommended); 1 milligram per cubic meter
of air.
Toxicology: Contact with the body results in rapid
destruction of tissue, causing severe burns. No
systemic effects due to continual ingestion of sn ail
amounts of this material have been noted. There are
systemic effects secondary to tissue damage caused
by ccntact with it. However, repeated contact with
dilute solutions can cause a dermatitis, and repeated
or prolonged inhalation of a mist of sulfuric acid
can cause an inflammation of the upper respiratory
tract leading to chronic bronchitis. Sensitivity
to sulfuric acid or mists or vapors varies with
individuals. Normally 0.125 to 0.50 ppm may be
mildly annoying and 1.5 to 2.5 ppm can be definitely
unpleasant. 10 to 20 ppm is unbearable.
Workers exposed to low concentrations of the vapor
gradually lose their sensitivity to its irritant
321
-------
action. Inhalation of concentrated vapor or mists
from hot acid or oleum can cause rapid loss of con-
sciousness with serious damage to lung tissue. In
concentrated form it acts as a powerful caustic to
the skin destroying the epidermis and penetrating
sane distance into the skin and subcutaneous tissues,
in which it causes necrosis. This causes great pain
and if much of the skin is involved, it is accom-
panied by shock, collapse and symptoms similar to
those seen in severe burns. The fumes or mists of
this material cause coughing and irritation of the
mucous membranes of the eyes and upper respiratory
tract. Severe exposure may cause a chemical
pneumonitis; erosion of the teeth due to exposure
to strong acid fumes has been recognized in in-
dustry.
Fire Hazard: Moderate, by chemical reaction; a power-
ful oxidizer; can ignite upon contact with combus-
tibles.
Disaster Hazard: Dangerous; when heated, it emits
highly toxic fumes; will react with water or steam
to produce heat; can react with oxidizing or re-
ducing materials.
Countermeasures are described in “Dangerous Properties
of Industrial Materials.” 82
Due to the complex composition of the acid sludge,
there are other noteworthy aspects:
Combustibles
The 30-42 wt.% concentration of combustibles in-
dicates that the sludge should be treated with
apprcpriate caution, but due to the low concentration
of volatiles (0.8%), this is probably a minor hazard.
Lead
Because the concentration of lead ranges from 1,000
ppm (as elemental lead) from treating waste diesel
oil to 20,000 ppm from treating crankcase waste
oils, the sludge prctably presents significant
potential for lead poisoning, since
1. The lead may be partially present as organo-
lead compounds which can enter the body
through the skin.
322
-------
2. The lead is probably present partially as
lead sulfate, one of the most toxic forms
(due to high solubility).
3. The concentrations of lead in blood in cases
of poisoning are equivalent to about 0.27
grains (6 x lO— lb) of sludges
4. The concentration of lead is comparable to
that in lead paint which has been banned or
restricted in some areas.
The complete writeup in Sax on lead, lead compounds,
and tetraethyl lead should be consulted. 82
Organcineta is
No data has been found to indicate the presence of
or absence of compounds of the metals with organic
constituents of the oils. However, the following
hazard analysis from Sax may be appropriate:
Organ ome t a is
General Information:
Description: Compounds containing carbon and a
metal. Ordinary metallic carbonates (calcium
carbonate etc.) are excluded and also metallic
salts of common organic acids. Examples of
organic metal compounds are Grignard compounds
such as methyl magnesium iodide (CH 3 MgI) and
metallic alkyls such as butyilithiuin (C 4 H 9 Li).
Hazard Analysis:
Toxicity: This group of compounds is constantly
growing in importance but there is relatively
little toxicological information on most of them.
Alkyl compounds of lead, tin, mercury and aluminum
are known to be highly toxic. Less is known
about other organornetals, but for the most part
they are highly reactive chemically and therefore
dangerous if only on direct contact. Until
specific toxicological data become available,
it is prudent to exercise great caution in handling
organometals, particularly the alkyl forms.
Su if ona tes
No data has been found to indicate the presence or
absence of sulfonates in the acid sludge, although
323
-------
it can be speculated that they are present. Sax
indicates that the toxicity varies for different
compounds. Toxic fumes of sulfur oxides may be
emitted on decomposition.
Cal ci urn
The toxicity of calcium compounds generally is
slight; in fact many calcium compounds are used
medicinally.
Phosphorus
Organic phosphate compounds are considered poisons
by ICC (Poison B Classification) and IATA (Poison
B Classification).
Most inorganic phosphates, except phosphine, have
low toxicity, but in large doses m y cause serious
disturbances particularly in calcium metabolism.
Meta phosphates may be highly toxic, causing
irritation and hemorrage in the stomach as well as
kidney and liver damage. No data has been found
on the hazards of the low concentrations present
in th€. acid sludge.
Sodium
Sodium compounds in general are not tcxic unless
the anion is, because the sodium ion is practically
non — toxic.
Z in c
Zinc is not inherently a toxic element, and zinc
compounds generally are of low toxicity.
Carcinogenicity
Some polycyclic hydrocarbcns, which may be resent
in some oils, have carcinogenic properties. These
include 3,4-benzpyrene, l,2,3,4—dibenzphenanthrene,
3,4,8,9 dibenzpyrene, arid 3,4,9,10 dibenzpyrene.
Possible toxicity and carcinogenicity of lubricants
and additives has also been investigated. 85
324
-------
Other Metals
In addition to the above, acid sludge also contains
copper and chromium in minor amounts. EPA has in-
cluded these elements in the list of substances
which, on the basis of initial analyses are believed
to have potential for producing serious public
health and environmental proflems when contained
in wastes for disposal. Asbestos, arsenic, beryl-
lium, cadmium, cyanides, lead, mercury, halo—
genated hydrocarbons, pesticides, selenium, and
zinc are also on the list.
The other known constituents cf the sludge do not
appear to present any obvious hazard potentials.
SPENT CLAY
No analyses of spent clay have been found. Spent clay
for petroleum refining contains 1-45% oil. It should be
pointed out that it is possible that the adsorped oil con-
tains lead and other potential hazards, as outlined in
Section VIII, and care should be taken to prevent entry in-
to the body of the oil laden clay.
The Material Safety Data Sheets received from clay
suppliers claim that:
1. Attapulgus clay is not considered a hazardous
material under current Department of Labor
definitions. Source: Englehard Minerals &
Chemicals Division.
2. Bentonite clay is considered an irritant due
to its particulate nature; with a 15 ppm (for
respirable fraction of inert dust) threshhold
limit value. Safety glasses and gloves and
protective equipment, and water flushing for
e e and skin contamination, and vomiting in-
ducing for internal contamination are recom-
mended. Landfill is suggested for waste dis—
posal. Source: Ashland Oil, Inc.
Since the clays contain major portions of silica (e.g.
Georgia Kaolin “Clarolite T—60” contain 64.6% S10 2 ) Sax’s
writeup on silica should be consulted. OSHA limits on
mineral dusts should also be consulted. 81
325
-------
Based on our understanding of the function of the clay
(to remove odor and color bodies), we expect that the ad-
sorbed compounds include nitrogen and oxygen containing
organics. Sax’s writeups on nitro compounds of aromatic
hydrocarbons, sulfur compounds, aldehydes, esters, and
ketones should be consulted. 82
Due to the oil content, the spent clays may present a
fire hazard.
CAUSTIC SLUDGE
Caustic sludge resulting frcm oil treating should be
treated with the same precautions as virgin caustic.
Specifically, it is corrosive, carries a white label (in
solution), and has a “hazardous material” Coast Guard Class i—
fication. Consult Sax for writeups on caustics and
alkalies. 82
Lead, other metals and metal compounds, and combustible
oils present in the sludge would appear to present the same
potential health and safety problems as the acid sludge.
Sodium silicate is known to be present, but this com-
pound, commonly referred to as water glass, has a “slight”
hazard rating according to Sax.
Sodium compounds in general are not toxic unless the
anion is, because the sodium ion is practically non—toxic.
DISTILLATION BOTTOMS, RAW OIL SPILLS, TANK SLUDGES,
PROCESS RESIDUES, AQUEOUS WASTE
Previous and subsequent discussions on lead, cc mbus—
tibles, organometals, other metals, volatiles, and car-
cincgenicity would appear to apply to these waste products.
Phenols may be found in wastes from distillation over-
heads. Consult Sax for hazard analysis of phenols. 82
VOLATILES, VAPORS
Volatiles and vapors from effluents, spills, and pro-
cessing steps present health or safety problem potentials
if TLV (threshhold limit value in air) is exceeded, cr if
concentrations reach the flammability range. No data is
available on work area concentrations, but TLV data on ex-
pected compounds follow:
326
-------
TLV
NO 25 ppm
NO 2 5 ppm
SO 2 5 ppm
NH 3 50 ppm
Consult Sax for hazard analyses for NO, NO 2 , SO 2 and NH 3 .
In addition, attention is again called to Sax’s write-
ups on aldehydes, ketone, esters and nitro—aromatics, and
writeups on paraffins and olefins. 82
NOISE
It should be noted that noise problems of re-refiners
are similar to those of petroleum refineries (e.g. pumps,
valves and burners).
OTHER SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
Safety hazards of re—refining are noteworthy, but
normal as compared to refinery operations, except that less
instrumentation and more manual operations are involved.
Fewer volatile combustibles are present in re—refining.
327
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TECHNICAL REPORT DATA
(Please read I s.t,uctions on the reverse before completing)
L REPC’ T NO. 12.
EPA-670/2-74-052_— I
3. RECIPIENTS ACCESSION .NO.
3. T TLE ND SUBTITLE
5. REPORT DATE
WASTE OIL RECYCLING AND DISPOSAL
August 1974;Issuing Date
6.PERFORMINGORGANIZATIONCOD E
7. AL ORIS)
8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORT NO.
Norman J. Weinstein
9. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME AND ADDRESS
10. PROGRAM ELEMENT NO. 1 BBO41
Recon Systems Inc.
Cherry Valley Road
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
ROAP 21AVJ/TASKS 09 & 21
11. CONTRACT/ F 1 NO.
68-01-1870 and
68-03-0394
2. SPC SORING AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS
13. TYPE OF REPORT AND PERIOD COVERED
National Environmental Research Center
Office of Research and Development
Final
14.SPONSORINGAGENCYCODE
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Cincinnati, Ohio 45268
5. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES
1 i, A6ST9 CT
This study has developed information on sources and quantities of
waste oils, current and potential recycle and disposal methods, and the
environmental impact of these methods. In addition to an extensive
literature search, surveys (of rerefiners, collectors and processors,
the Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Metro area and Standard Industrial Classi-
fication groups) were conducted to develop information reported.
17. KEY WORDS AND DOCUMENT ANALYSIS
DESCRIPTORS
*Waste disposal, *WaSte
treatment, *Ojl recovery,
* ubrjcating oils, Fuel
oil, Wastes, Pollution,
Collection
b.IDENTIFIERS/OPEN ENDED TERMS
C. COSATI Field/Group
*Waste oil, *011 pollution,
*Recycling, *Waste crankcase
oil, *Waste oil re—refining,
*Waste industrial oil, Waste
lube oil, *Waste oil collec-
tion, Recovery and reuse
13B
13DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT 19. SECURITY CLASS (This Report)
UNCLASSIFIED
RELEASE TO PUBLIC 20SECURITY CLASS (Thispage)
1JNCLASS IF lED
21. NO. OF PAGES
342
22.PRICE
EPA F’orm 2220-1 (9-73) 3 2 8
U . 1%I$ Ifl P I%TIIIG OfilCi 197 J 1 - 1 57581 4 /5335 Region No. 5-Il
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