Can industrial waste oil still be used after filtration?

Industrial waste oil can be reused after proper treatment, but whether it can be reused depends on the treatment process, oil quality and application requirements. The following is a key analysis:

1. Potential problems of waste oil

Waste oil usually contains the following pollutants:

- Metal particles: iron, copper and other debris produced by engine wear.

- Water: condensed or mixed liquid water.

- Chemical impurities: oxides, carbon deposits and additive decomposition products.

- Foreign pollutants: dust, fuel diluents (diesel/gasoline mixture).

These impurities will reduce lubrication performance, accelerate equipment wear, and even cause corrosion.

2. Limitations of filtration treatment

- Simple filtration (such as screens, centrifugal separation):

It can only remove larger solid impurities, but cannot remove water, chemical pollutants or tiny particles (<10 microns). Directly filtered oil cannot be used for high-precision equipment (such as modern engines, hydraulic systems).

- Deep purification treatment (special equipment required):

Through technologies such as vacuum dehydration oil filter, adsorption purification, chemical treatment or distillation regeneration, it can be close to the new oil standard. If the budget is sufficient, the whole method can be considered, and professional manufacturers are required to operate.

3. Viable reuse channels

- Low demand scenario:

Oil products after simple filtration can be used for:

- Lubrication of non-precision parts such as chains and gearboxes.

- Industrial uses, such as anti-rust coatings and wood preservation.

- Used as fuel (must comply with environmental regulations, and may require further metallization/sulfurization).

- Strict scenario:

Industries such as automobiles and aviation need to go through base oil recovery processes (such as hydrofining) and meet API/SAE standards before they can be used.

4. Environmental and legal risks

- Direct discharge or improper treatment: Waste oil contains carcinogens (such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), and many countries strictly prohibit arbitrary disposal.

- Compliance treatment: It must be handled by a unit with hazardous waste treatment qualifications. Some countries allow enterprises to regenerate on their own, but they must meet emission standards.

5. Economic considerations

- The cost of small-scale filtration may be lower than purchasing new oil, but long-term use of inferior oil may lead to increased equipment maintenance costs.

- The price of professionally recycled oil is about 30-50% of new oil, and the cost-effectiveness needs to be weighed.

Conclusion

- It cannot be used directly in precision equipment after filtration, but it can be downgraded after simple treatment.

- Compliant recycled oil can ｒｅｐｌａｃｅ new oil after the performance meets the standard, but its qualification certification (such as API certification) must be recognized.

- Professional recycling is preferred to avoid environmental and legal risks.

It is recommended to contact a waste oil recycling company that holds a "Hazardous Waste Operation License" to ensure that the treatment process complies with local regulations (such as China's "Technical Specifications for Pollution Control of Waste Mineral Oil Recycling").