Polyaniline-based filtration assembly for efficient recovery and recycling of used lubricant oil: a sustainable approach for environmental remediation

ABSTRACT

In the current study, polyaniline (PANI) for the first time has been employed to purify ULO. Conducting polymer, polyaniline, was effectively synthesized via the in-situ oxidative polymerization process. The physiochemical properties of recovered oil were analyzed, and the results were compared with fresh oil samples. The viscosity and density of the recovered oil sample were significantly decreased from 105.6 cP to 59.04 cP and from 869.54 kg/m³ to 858.17 kg/m³, respectively, indicating significant removal of impurities. The flash point of the used oil sample was observed at 180°C, and the recovered oil was found to be 220°C, which indicates the substantial elimination of volatile impurities from the ULO. Thus, the properties of the recovered oil sample demonstrated that the PANI effectively decontaminated ULO without generating secondary contaminants. The efficiency of oil purification was measured using FT-IR, UV, and ICP-OES. The concentration level of Fe, Zn, and Pb in the recovered oil sample has been decreased to a greater extent. To conclude, a polyaniline-based filtration assembly was employed to recycle ULO and remove contaminants effectively.

Graphical abstract

KEYWORDS:

• Recycling
• used lubricant oil (ULO)
• conducting polymer
• adsorption

Acknowledgements

The authors express their sincere gratitude to the SRDC (Solar Research Development Centre), PDEU, Gandhinagar for the FE-SEM analysis. The authors would also like to thank the Department of Chemical Engineering, Petroleum Engineering Lab (SPT) and Centre of Biofuel and Bioenergy Studies (CBBS), PDEU, Gandhinagar for their instrumentation facilities. We also acknowledge Government of Gujarat for providing SHODH fellowship during research work (Ref No: 202001580011).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contributions

The author confirms contribution to the paper as follows: Conceptualization: KP and SS; Methodology: KP and SS; Data collection: KP; Software: KP, ZD, SS, and RG; Method validation: KP and SS; Formal analysis: KP and ZD; Investigator: KP, ZD, SS, and RG; Resource: KP and SS; Supervision of the study: SS and RG; Writing original draft preparation: KP and SS; Review and editing: SS and RG. All authors reviewed the results and approved the final version of the manuscript.

Supplementary Material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2023.2273408.

Additional information

Funding

The authors express their sincere gratitude to Pandit Deendayal Energy University (PDEU), Gandhinagar for financial support through SRP Grant No: R&D/SRP/2021/020. Authors also acknowledge Govt. of Gujarat for providing SHODH (Scheme of Developing high quality research) fellowship Ref No. 202001580011.