Scientists from Tomsk Polytechnic University (TPU) have developed a promising method for disposing of oil production waste — oil sludge.
The study showed that adding various components, such as fatty acid methyl esters (FAME), diesel fuel, methanol, and technical water, to oil sludge improves its characteristics and allows it to be used as a component of liquid composite fuels.
Oil sludge, consisting of oil, mechanical impurities (clay, sand, metal oxides), and water, is a toxic waste that requires disposal. Currently, various methods are used for its disposal, including physico-chemical and thermal methods. However, due to its high viscosity and unstable combustion characteristics, the direct use of oil sludge as fuel is difficult.
Scientists have found that adding various additives to oil sludge significantly improves its operational and energy characteristics. A mixture of oil sludge with diesel fuel and FAME showed a 3-12 fold reduction in oil sludge viscosity, improved ignition and burnout, and increased combustion efficiency at a temperature of about 600°C.
According to the experimental results, the oil sludge-based mixture showed that the efficiency of the composition is 5-25% higher than that of the raw material. This opens up new opportunities for oil sludge processing, more rational use of resources, and improvement of the environmental situation.
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