Recycling of used oil - by ultraviolet and/or infrared radiation treatment

摘要

Process for recycling used oil comprises preheating the oil and treating it with UV and/or IR radiation in a reactor. Also claimed is an appts. for carrying out the above process in which the radiation sources (22) are located in air-cooled quartz tubes (2) within the (oil) medium. A combintaion of UV and IR radiation is used. The oil is heated to cracking temp. by radiant energy, and the resulitng thermal convection is supplemented by mechanical agitation to prevent `hot spots'. USE/ADVANTAGE - The process may be applied to mixts. os used lubricating oils, transformer oils, cutting oils, solvents, heating oils, tar oils, vegetable oils, etc.. Oil mixts. can be distd. and partially cracked in a continuous operation without the need for frequent shutdown to clean heat-exchange surfaces. Dioxins are destroyed.