DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY STUDY
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy, under Former Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy Steven Winberg, issued a report on the impact of re-refining used oil. The report recommends an increase in the use of used oils and lubricants to produce more high-quality base oils, fuels, and other commodity products.
SOME KEY FINDINGS:
• Higher-quality used motors oils can allow for future efficiencies within the re-refining process and produce higher-quality base oils and other products down the value chain. Finding more efficient ways to support the reuse of used oil is a top priority.
• The EPA supports re-refining used oil because it closes the recycling loop by returning the used oil to its original form. This process uses less energy and less virgin oil.
• Results from life cycle assessments suggest that re-refined, used oils has a lesser energy and environmental impact than producing virgin oils from base stocks.
• Re-refined base stock is comparable to virgin base stocks and can be used in the production of motor and industrial oils. The recycled product meets the standards set by the American Petroleum Institute and the International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee.
