Reuse of spent bleaching earth by polymerization of residual organics

RAW MATERIAL

Spent bleaching earth is an excess waste coming from the oil industry which comprises almost 2 million
tonnes per year. This large volume of waste can be process and reuse to make a new product which can
be very useful in our society today.

In any oil industry, bleaching process is very significant. The bleaching agent are mixed with the oils
during the refining process. It is necessary in order to remove impurities from oils such as trace metals,
carotenoids and free fatty acids. Bleaching process also improves the shelf-life of the oils. This process
ensures that the product will meet the requirement which is necessary.

METHODOLOGY/PROCESS

For the characterization of SBE:

Laser diffraction was used to determine the particle size distribution of the spent bleaching agent. A 0.2
g of sample was used for this method. A separate samples was also used the determine the moisture
content of the oil. The spent bleaching Earth samples was analyzed sing the thermogravimetric analysis,
They used a heating range of 10 oC/min.

For the characterization of residual oil:

Acetone was used as a solvent for the extraction of the residual oil which are present in SBE. Using 7 to 8
mg of the samples recovered were place between two NaCl discs and analyzed by Fourier Transform
Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR).

Preparation of SBE monolithic samples:

In a 2cm diameter steel pressing die, the SBE monolithic samples were compacted. The height of the of
the sample should be controlled to 4.00 to plus or minus 0.005 cm. The weight should also be recorded.
For the heat treatment, the samples which are compacted were transferred to an oven. After the
process of heating, a desiccator was used as storage for the samples.

Two different uniaxial pressures,1 and 5 MPa, were used in compacting SBE monolithic samples. In
order induce polymerization of the residual oil ,the samples were heat treated at a different
temperatures, 60 oC and 150 oC, fo a period of 0.5 to 48 hours. For each set , a total of 32 compaction
and thermal treatments were used.

To confirm the strength development in SBE was due to the residual oils,an additional 100% bleaching
earth were also prepared. A second set was also prepared by mixing the 63% (w/w) BE with r37% (w/w)
refined oil. A 2.6 % moisture should be met for the SBE.
Polymerisation in SBE monolithic samples

 Unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of samples heat treated at 60 oC and 150 oC

The samples which are pressed with 5 MPa yield to a UCS of 2 MPa after o,5 hour of curing and it
increases to 3 MPa after 48 hours of curing.Using 1 MPa and 60 oC for pressing the samples will yield to
a low UCS. Those samples that comprises 100% bleaching earth without the addition of oil had no
strength, which means that the development of UCS is associated with the residual oil polymerization.

Another set of the samples were cured a 150 oC and compacted at 1,3,5, and 7 MPa between 0.5 and
48 hours. The UCS increases by increasing the compaction pressure. The increased compaction also
delays the rate of the development of of UCS in compacted SBE.

PRODUCTS

The SBE are reused and manufactured to novel clay blocks for used in construction which are bonded
by vegetable oil which are polymerized. This waste has a potential for the production of low energy
novel clay.

FACILITIES NEEDED

 Extraction unit-for the separation of SBE from oils

 Storage Tanks-for storing and transfer of the samples
 Compaction equipment(pressing machines,pumps)- for pressing the samples
 Reactors- for polymerization of the residual oils
 Heat exchangers, burner gas, oven-for heat treatment

SOURCE:

https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=qyt7XfysK8usoASHtqqoBA&q=Reuse+of+spent+bleachi
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zation+of+residual+organics&gs_l=psy-ab.3...3150.3150..4537...0.0..0.146.146.0j1......0....2j1..gws-
wiz.Lp6R4geeFis&ved=0ahUKEwi8rvP4is3kAhVLFogKHQebCkUQ4dUDCAU&uact=5