PRODUCTION OF HYDROGEN AND CARBON BLACK BY VACUUM PYROLYSIS OF WASTE LUBRICATION OIL

Abstract

Vacuum pyrolysis of waste lubrication oil was carried out in a pilot-scale vacuum chamber. A waste oil sample was pyrolyzed in two consecutive reactors. A direct heating system with an electric arc generated from graphite balls was used for pyrolysis under a vacuum. Vacuum pyrolysis of waste lubrication oil was conducted using graphite balls at various surface temperatures (800-1,500 degrees C) and oil feed rates (50-250 cm(3)/min). The main gaseous and vapor products, including H-2, CO and CO2, were analyzed. H2 production uniformly increased while that of CO uniformly decreased at graphite ball temperatures above 1000 degrees C. The hydrogen content increased to a maximum of 80 vol. % at a graphite ball surface temperature of 1,500 degrees C and an oil feed rate of 250 cm(3)/min. At the higher oil feed rates, the pyrolysis reactor pressure was slightly higher. The characteristics of the carbon black collected at each consecutive reactor were analyzed by BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) surface area method, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM).