Abstract:
Engine oil is lubricating oil that has been used to reduce friction between moving parts, and
as a result of such use, physical contamination and chemical impurities of it are occurred.
Waste lubricant oil is one of the most serious pollutants that are generated in most areas of
our world. Likewise, in Jimma town, used lubricating oils that are disposed from private
garages and other government institutions are source of suffering for the surrounding societies.
This is mainly because of waste lubricating oils are one of the major contributing factor for
environmental pollution. Many scientific studies have also indicated that because of ineffective
disposal mechanisms, waste lubricating oils have been causing serious environmental
challenge and harmful health issue. Cognizant to these fact, this thesis attempts to make
analysis on the processes of converting waste oil in to more valuable products such as fuel.
Among others, the main way that the researcher had practiced for recycling of used lubricating
oils is treating by pyrolysis process, which consists of recovering the original base oil to be
reused in the formulation of new products or generate different product from its original base
like fuels. To achieve the required result, multivariate experimental practices were adopted for
this study. The system adopted in the experiment was covering conversion of the waste engine
oil in to fuel product by pyrolysis with pre or post-chemical treatment. Besides, the energy
source used for conducting the process was solar thermal energy using parabolic dish
collector. Following experimental analysis in different procedures, the fuels which had
different calorific value (characterization was performed by Geological Survey of Ethiopia,
Geochemical Laboratory Directorates) were generated. The result of this experimental study
indicated that from the sampled eight experiment, the best fuel which can be used for cooking
stove that has 44,678.88 KJ/Kg calorific value, 840 Kg/m
3
density, 3.65 mm2
/s kinematic
viscosity and 52oC flash point was found. It has been concluded that, production of fuel from
waste engine oil using solar thermal pyrolysis is a profitable business by replacing kerosene
which is currently imported from abroad and solving environmental defects which have been
caused due o improper handling of WEO
