Feedstock Quality Control

The profitability of a waste oil re-refining plant is decided long before the oil reaches the distillation column. Feedstock quality control is the discipline that screens incoming used oil for water, solids, acidity and dissolved contaminants, protecting energy efficiency, catalyst life and finished product quality. A facility that skips this step pays for it downstream in every unit operation.

Water and Solids

Water enters used oil through condensation, cooling-system leaks and poor storage. Excess moisture causes foaming, destabilizes the vacuum system, promotes overhead corrosion and wastes energy boiling off what should have been removed earlier. Suspended solids such as soot, rust and wear metals blind filters, abrade pumps and foul heat exchangers, bloating the residue left in the column bottoms.

Acidity, Flash Point and Density

A rising total acid number signals thermal and oxidative breakdown into organic acids that corrode carbon steel piping and foul catalysts. A depressed flash point warns of fuel dilution or solvents that raise fire risk and overload the vacuum recovery system, while an unexpected shift in density flags adulteration with water, heavy fuel or chlorinated solvents. These simple readings are the cheapest early warning a plant has.

Halogens, Sulphur and Metals

Chlorinated compounds are among the most damaging contaminants in the stream. When they crack, they release hydrochloric acid that pits overhead steel and irreversibly poisons hydrotreating catalysts. Sulphur from gear-oil additives forces higher hydrogen consumption, and trace silicon from sealants and anti-foam agents permanently deactivates catalyst active sites. Tracking these through laboratory analysis is what separates a stable plant from one fighting catalyst beds.

Building a Testing Routine

The practical answer is a structured laboratory matrix: water, sediment, viscosity, acid number, flash point, density, chlorine, sulphur, silicon and wear-metal content on every significant batch. Klean’s approach is to characterize the feedstock first, then design the pre-treatment that removes the contaminants actually present in your local supply, rather than paying for generic cleanup the oil does not need.

Learn More:

• Feasibility Studies for Waste-to-Value Projects
• Turn-Key EPC Delivery
• Plant Design & Engineering
• Facility Efficiency Upgrades
• Resource Recovery Projects

Characterize Before You Build

Knowing exactly what is in your waste oil stream prevents expensive surprises later.

Klean Industries maps your feedstock and designs pre-treatment around the contaminants it actually contains.

Considering a feedstock quality control project?

Contact Klean Industries about feedstock quality control » GO.