Recycled Vegetable Oil

Waste oil and its effects on the environment

Motor oil leaked from individual vehicles, or outright dumped by homeowners and commercial garages inevitably find its place in local water bodies. Topsoil and natural vegetation normally filter many of these pollutants, but the impermeable pavement covers much of the surface where these pollutants originate carries it right into storm drains and into streams, rivers, lakes and the ocean where it can poison marine life that we could eat, and all riparian or coastal ecosystems.

This pollution also finds its place in the underground aquifers that supply our drinking water, reducing it is a measure of human health and could also save municipalities millions of dollars annually in the facilities of drinking water treatment and operation.

While government agencies try to craft and implement development and zoning standards to help reduce the problems of stormwater runoff caused by commercial and industrial entities, there is still much that individuals can do to reduce their impact as well. Indeed, over 40 percent of oil pollution in the United States from the improper disposal of used motor oil by individuals.

What is used oil? The definition of the Environmental Protection Agency of the oil used is as follows: Used oil is an oil that has been refined from crude oil or synthetic oil that has been used and following a such use is contaminated by physical or chemical impurities. In other words, the oil used is exactly what its name implies, any petroleum based or synthetic oil that has been used. In normal use, impurities such as dirt, metal scrapings, water or chemicals can be mixed with oil, so that in time the oil more efficient. Finally, the oil used should be replaced with virgin or reclaimed oil to do the work in hand of the EPA standards for managing used oil include a three-pronged approach to determine whether a substance meets the definition of used oil. To meet the EPA definition of used oil, a substance must meet each of the three following criteria:

1. Origin - the first criterion for used oil is based on the identification of the origin of oil. Used oil must be refined from crude oil or synthetic materials. Animal and vegetable oils are excluded from the definition EPA used oil.

2. Use - the second criterion is based on whether and how the oil is used. Oils used as lubricants, hydraulic fluids, coolants, buoyant, and for other similar purposes are considered used oil. Unused oil such as waste deep cleaning of fuel tanks virgin petroleum storage or nine oil obtained from a spill, do not meet the definition EPA used oil, because These oils have not been "used." EPA's definition also excludes products used as cleaning agents or solely for their solvent properties, and certain petroleum products such as antifreeze and kerosene.

3. Contaminants - The third criterion is based on whether or not the oil is contaminated with impurities, either physical or chemical. In other words, to meet the definition of the EPA, used oil must be contaminated after being used. This aspect of the EPA's definition includes residues and contaminants from handling, storage and processing of waste oils. Physical contaminants could include metal shavings, sawdust, or dirt. Chemical contaminants could include solvents, halogens, or saltwater.

How is used oil recycled? Once the oil has been used, it can be collected, recycled and used again and again. 380 million gallons of used oil are recycled each year. Recycled used oil can sometimes be used again for the same work or can not undertake a task completely different. For example, used motor oil can be reclaimed and sold in the store motor oil or processed oil heating. Aluminum rolling oils can also be filtered on site and used again.

Comments

There are no comments.

Leave a Comment