Spent Lubricating Oil Residues as New Precursors for Carbon

Spent lubricating oil sample (Shell) were reclaimed using some chemical treatments. The raffinate and residues were separated and carbonized in an oxygen-free environment at 950°C using a muffle furnace. The carbonaceous residues were analyzed by EDS for total carbon and oxygen content as well as some wear metals. It was observed that these materials were enriched in carbon and in some cases the values attained 80%. The particle morphological and textural changes was also studied by using Scanning Electron Microscopy. It is inferred from the results that the carbonaceous residues obtained were porous and can be important from the applied point of view for removal of contaminants from industrial effluents. The carbonaceous residues obtained from the residual lubricating oil can be used as source for production of composite carbon because of the dispersed metals in the char matrix i.e., the wear metals like Al, Zn. Si, Ca, Mg, Na etc.