Abstract

Used engine oil of GX900 generator and TVS874 tricycle was treated using the acid-clay treatment process with the aim to generate diesel fuel. Characterization of the diesel fuel using FT-IR depict similar charac-teristics to conventional petroleum diesel fuel i.e. saturated alkane structures. However, sulphur dioxide and sulphur were also detected with high intensities. The GC-MS analysis of generated diesel fuel from used engine oil of GX900 generator and TVS874 tricycle reveal characteristics analogous to biodiesel blends i.e. the presence of aliphatic hydrocarbons and fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) in significant quantity. Alka-noic acids and others chemical compounds such as 2-ethyl-2-methyl oxirane, oxalic acid, 2-methyl pen-tanal, 1-pentacontanol pentyl-oxirane, 2-octyl-1-decanol, sulphurous acid, 2-methyl-1-hexadecanol etc. were also found in the GC-MS analysis but in low quantity compared to aliphatic hydrocarbons and FAMEs. It was concluded that generation of diesel fuel from used engine oil of GX900 generator and TVS874 tricycle is promising but proper research and development is required.

Key words: used engine oil, diesel, fuel, regeneration, FT-IR and GC-MS