Production of Activated Carbon from Spent Lubricating Oils by Chemical Treatment

Abstract

In this work activated carbon of a good quality prepared from spent lubricating
oils using oxidation condensation process. The oxidation of the spent lubricating oils
conducted using 2% (wt%) of (CoCl2, ZnCl2 & FeCl3) and in the presence of a stream
of air or oxygen. The reaction mixture was heated at 350°C for (12, 24 & 36) hr, this
followed by removal of uncarbonized materials under reduced pressure. The
carbonization and activation was conducted at 550±25°C for 3 hrs and the ratio of the
feedstock to NaOH (1:2). After the carbonization was completed, the reaction mixture
was subjected to purification by treatment with distilled water, 10% HCl and distilled
water till it gives neutral test to litmus paper. The samples were dried at 120°C for 24
hr and its physical properties were determined, the research work indicated that a
good quality activated carbon was obtained when the oxidation of sample was
conducted using 2% FeCl3 for 36 hr.