Issue 161-M

136

2016

أوابك العلمية لعام

�

ص لبحوث العلمية الفائزة بجائزة

�

عدد خا

مجلة النفط والتعاون العربي

161

العدد

- 2017

أربعون

المجلد الثالث و ال

Re-refining of Used Lubricating Oil and its Economic and Environmental Implications

North America, the second largest market in the world, accounts for 19%. Of the

approximately 3.6 million metric tons of used oil generated annually, 3 million metric

tons are collected, of which about 1.5 million metric tons are re-refined into base oils

and intermediate products, while the rest is burned or improperly disposed of

(VERTEX,2016). Currently there are 9 re-refiners with a daily re-refining capacity of

18000 barrels per day of used oil (Infineum, 2013).

In Europe, which is considered to be the front runner of the re-refining industry, the

lubricants consumption stood at about 7.5 million metric tons; representing 19% of the

global consumption. The waste oil recycling industry is comprised of 28 plants

processing ca. 1.3 million metric tons per year (Kupareva et al, 2013). About 30 per cent

of all base oils consumed in the EU are made from regenerated waste oils. Currently

81% of used lubricating oils are recycled out of 2.2 million tons collected annually

(Kernies, 2013). About 728000 metric tons (35%) of the collected used oil are re-refined

into base oils and 1149000 metric tons (55%) are burned as fuel. The rest is of unknown

destination.

In Latin America, over 2.1 million metric tons are consumed annually. About 0.56

million metric tons are collected per year and only 0.3 million tons are re-refined.

In Asia Pacific, the largest lube oil market, about 12.5 million tons are consumed per

year and 3.6 million tons are recovered. Only 0.67 million tons are re-refined.

Africa and the Middle East region account for 11% of the global demand.

While demand for the lubricants is expected to remain unchanged in the industrialized

world, in the developing world the demand is expected to grow. The Asia-Pacific

region, and to a less extent Latin America and Africa/Mideast regions, will remain the

fastest growing regions, due mainly to increasing industrial output and expanding

motor vehicle parks.

Figure 5 shows the regional lube oil consumption, collection and recycling of used oil.