THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

MANAGEMENT OF USED OIL FROM MOTOR VEHICLES

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a used oil is one that comes
from crude or synthetic oil that has been used for any one or several treatments, where
when said treatments are carried out, these oils will contain chemical as well as physical
impurities.
This agency also mentions that the oil used in vehicles and industrial machines causes one
of the most dangerous waste that exists due to its contaminants. Since when oils are used as
lubricants they degrade, creating very toxic substances and “heavy” metals that are the
result of being exposed to temperatures and pressures within the engines, machines and
processes that are used.
There are different types of oils in which they can be used as lubricants depending on the
work that needs to be done, which is why the lubricant will be defined as what is interposed
between two moving surfaces (such as a transmission) so a layer is formed. separator that
prevents direct contact between the pieces and thus avoiding wear. But although it has
advantages in machinery, the biggest disadvantage it has is the pollution it causes in water,
land and air.
In water, one liter of oil can contaminate a million liters of virgin water; in the air, oil when
burned by some machinery (as mentioned above) causes toxic gases because it contains
lead, chlorine, phosphorus, sulfur, etc. And on land, just as it harms water, it also harms
terrestrial and underground areas because this affects the fertility of the soil, damaging the
biology and chemistry that surrounds it. (Correa, 2013).
To determine if a used oil has reached the end of its useful life as a lubricant, the first
criterion that is taken into account is its origin. This is seen in two ways which are whether
this oil has been refined from crude oil or whether it was manufactured from synthetic
materials. Oils of vegetable or animal origin are excluded from being called used oil.
Taking into account another important factor to determine whether it is a used oil or the use
given to such oil in its useful life is not taken into account, ales can be used as lubricants,
hydraulic fluids, flotation media, fluids for heat transfer and similar purposes that cause
them to be taken as used oils, any other oil that has uses such as virgin fuel storage or any
oil recovered from spills is not taken as used oil.
Third criterion that will be taken into account is whether or not the oil is contaminated with
impurities that can be physical or chemical, in short, to satisfy the concept of used oil, the
used oil must be contaminated as a result of its use, this aspect of the definition includes
waste and contaminants generated by the handling, storage and processing of used oil.
Physical contaminants include metal particles, sawdust or dirt. Chemical contaminants
include solvents, halogens or salt water. (Llanos, 2013)
Elimination of impurities: Machines and equipment that are lubricated, over time,
impurities of various types are produced in them. This is due to the use that it is given, wear
or corrosion and external contaminants that affect it over time. That is why they are
lubricated, since the lubricant is responsible for eliminating these impurities through
circulation through the machine. In simpler words, the lubricant gets dirty to keep the
machine clean.
Anticorrosive and antiwear: All lubricants are said to have anticorrosive properties and
reduce friction and wear on machines. That is why they are used to lubricate machines to
reduce their friction and therefore their wear over time. There are some lubricants to which
special additives are added to increase their properties and can preserve the machines or
where they are used for longer.
Sealant: Lubricants also have the objective of sealing those parts where there may be a leak
of different types or where gases contaminate the oil and may affect the performance of the
engine.
Energy transmitter: This is also a very typical function of all hydraulic fluids, which is that
lubricants are also, in addition to their previous applications, responsible for transmitting
energy from one point to another in the system. (Correa, 2013
The used oils used in internal combustion engines are so named after a virgin oil has been
contaminated by some residue, after having worked in some mechanism, and has fulfilled
its function of lubricating, cooling, avoiding fractionation and heating.
In the components of the artifact, depending on the use it has had, it will have several
characteristics which classify it as a dangerous article by NOM 052 in 1993.
In this case we will refer to internal combustion engines, which operate using gasoline,
since depending on the use of oil, it has certain additives which, when the engine is in
operation, combine or add these products to the oil, which can cause reactions. chemicals.
Some examples of used oil chemicals would be internal engine metals which, when in
operation, are released through friction, gasoline, antifreeze, among others.
One of the main reasons why the oil has to be replaced is because the temperatures to
which it is subjected cause its properties to be lost, and it no longer provides the desired
objective such as lubrication.
But replacing it does not mean that it is no longer useful, through different processes it is
treated and can be used again and it returns to have the same working capacity. (Santiago,
2005)

PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF USED MOTOR OILS FOR

RECYCLING
Waste oils are highly polluting that can cause damage to the environment when they are
dumped on the ground or in waterways, whether lakes, rivers, streams, or even in sewers.
The oil already used contains various chemical compounds that have a direct effect on
human health and several of these are carcinogenic. The EPA conducted an extensive study
on regulatory alternatives and in that study it was stated that more than 3,000 types of
cancer would be the result of the absorption of Chromium that comes from burning oil
without prior treatment.
Even after used oils have large amounts of internal energy that can be used, for example, in
some large cement companies the oil is used as fuel, in other cases the lubricant base is
recycled, eliminating sediments, particles and water in order to be able to re-process them.
The reuse of used engine oils begins with a retreatment that is based on the removal of
insoluble contaminants, water, sediments and oxidation products, all through different
physical-chemical processes such as heating the oil, filtration, dehydration. and
centrifugation. All used oils are re-generable, although this process is very expensive,
which is why it is a very unviable solution.
Another alternative use consists of converting used motor oil into a fine chemical product.
Another form of use is also presented through the use of homogeneous catalysis assisted
with ultrasonic irradiation, which allows the conversion of used oil to biodiesel. The latter
is a very favorable option since this conversion achieves that the acidity and viscosity of the
biodiesel is that allowed in the ASTM D445 standard. (Tovar, 2016)

References
Correa, F. J. (September, 2nd, 2013). Proposal for the management of used oil in motor vehicles in
Caton Sigsig. From La Calderon, Cuenca, Ecuador.

Llanos, C. F. (September, 2nd, 2013). proposal for the management of used oil from motor vehicles
in the canton sigsig. city of Calderon, Cuenca, Ecuador.

Santiago, N. (June 13, 2005). Treatment and recycling of used oils and lubricants. Municipality of
Santiago, Mexico, Toluca Valley.
Tovar, C. T. (June 24, 2016). Physical-chemical characterization of used motor oils for recycling.
Colombia.