Emissions of CO and SO2 from solvent extraction treatment of used lubricant

Abstract

Emissions fromused lubricant could have adverse effect on man and its environment due to the presence of degraded additives and contaminants. Different treatment methodshas been developed with few check on its pollution aspect. This study investigated the emissions of two major criteria pollutants - carbon monoxide (CO) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) from the solvent extraction treatment of used lubricant. CO was found to be the highest emitting pollutant with mean emission concentration of 85.85 mg/m3 which has exceeded the set NAQS standard while SO2 falls within the standard limit. Therefore,there is a great need to give attention to the control of CO emissions around the treatment plant. However, CO emission can be controlled by employing a CO converter to convert the poisonous gas to a less poisonous gas or substituting the existing process in solvent extraction with a more environmentally friendly one.