Thermo-catalytic decomposition of waste lubricating oil over carbon catalyst

The thermo-catalytic decomposition of waste lubricating oil over a carbon catalyst was investigated in an I.D. of 14.5mm and length of 640mm quartz tube reactor. The carbon catalysts were activated carbon and rubber grade carbon blacks. The decomposition products of waste lubricating oil were hydrogen, methane, and ethylene in a gas phase, carbon in a solid phase and naphthalene in a liquid phase occurring within the temperature ranges of 700 °C-850 °C. The thermo-catalytic decomposition showed higher hydrogen yield and lower methane yield than that of a non-catalytic decomposition. The carbon black catalyst showed higher hydrogen yield than the activated carbon catalyst and maintained constant catalytic activity for hydrogen production, while activated carbon catalyst showed a deactivation in catalytic activity for hydrogen production. As the operating temperature increased from 700 °C to 800 °C, the hydrogen yield increased and was particularly higher with carbon black catalyst than activated carbon. As a result, carbon black catalyst was found to be an effective catalyst for the decomposition of waste lubricating oil into valuable chemicals such as hydrogen and methane.