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Fuel 92 (2012) 327–339

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Fuel
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Microwave-heated pyrolysis of waste automotive engine oil: Influence of operation parameters on the yield, composition, and fuel properties of pyrolysis oil
Su Shiung Lam a,c,⇑, Alan D. Russell a, Chern Leing Lee b, Howard A. Chase a
a b c

Department of ChemicalEngineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3RA, United Kingdom BP Institute, Bullard Laboratories, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0EZ, United Kingdom Department of Engineering Science, University Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu, Malaysia

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Thepyrolysis of waste automotive engine oil was investigated using microwave energy as the heat source, and the yield and characteristics of the pyrolysis oils (i.e. elemental analysis, hydrocarbon composition, and potential fuel properties) are presented and discussed. The microwave-heated pyrolysis generated an 88 wt.% yield of condensable pyrolysis oil with fuel properties (e.g. density, calorificvalue) comparable to traditional liquid transportation fuels derived from fossil fuel. Examination of the composition of the oils showed the formation of light aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons that could also be used as a chemical feedstock. The oil product showed significantly high recovery (90%) of the energy present in the waste oil, and is also relatively contaminant free with low levels ofsulphur, oxygen, and toxic PAH compounds. The high yield of pyrolysis oil can be attributed to the unique heating mode and chemical environment present during microwave-heated pyrolysis. This study extends existing findings on the effects of pyrolysis process conditions on the overall yield and formation of the recovered oils, by demonstrating that feed injection rate, flow rate of purge-gas, and heatingsource influence the concentration and the molecular nature of the different hydrocarbons formed in the pyrolysis oils. The microwaveheated pyrolysis can be performed in a continuous operation, and the apparatus described which is fitted with magnetrons capable of delivering 5 kW of microwave power is capable of treating waste oil at a feed rate of 5 kg/h with a positive energy ratio of 8 (energycontent of hydrocarbon products/electrical energy supplied for microwave heating) and a net energy output of 179,390 kJ/h. Our results indicate that microwave-heated pyrolysis shows exceptional promise as a means for recycling and treating problematic waste oil. Ó 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Article history: Received 17 May 2011 Received in revised form 11 July 2011 Accepted 13 July2011 Available online 28 July 2011 Keywords: Pyrolysis Microwave pyrolysis Waste oil Pyrolysis oil Fuel

1. Introduction The production of waste automotive engine oil is estimated at 24 million tons each year throughout the world, posing a significant treatment and disposal problem for modern society. The waste oil, containing a mixture of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, also represents apotential source of high-value fuel and chemical feedstock. The preferred disposal options in most countries are incineration and combustion for energy recovery, and vacuum distillation and hydro-treatment for re-refining the waste oil [1]. However, these disposal routes recover only the chemical value of the waste and they are becoming increasingly impracticable as
⇑ Corresponding author at:Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3RA, United Kingdom. Tel.: +44 (0)1223330132; fax: +44 (0)1223334796. E-mail addresses: ssl28@cam.ac.uk, sushiung@gmail.com (S.S. Lam), ar508@ cam.ac.uk (A.D. Russell), cll44@cam.ac.uk (C.L. Lee), hac1000@cam.ac.uk (H.A. Chase).
0016-2361/$ - see front matter Ó 2011 Elsevier...