California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle)

Used Oil Recycling Program

The Process: How Oil Is Rerefined

Text Version

diagram of step one: vacuum distillation diagram of step 2: hydrofinishing

 

Text Version...

Step 1: Vacuum Distillation

  1. Used oil arrives.
  2. Rejection of inappropriate feedstocks.
  3. Chemical pretreatment.
  4. Dehydration (water as steam is cooled and discharged to municipal sewage treatment).
  5. Vacuum distillation. Asphalt flux is stripped off the bottom and sold for roofing materials. Gasoil is recovered as refinery fuel.
  6. Lube oil distillates result.

Step 2: Hydrofinishing

  1. Hydrotreating reactor
  2. Hydrotreating reactor
  3. Hydrotreating reactor
  4. Fractionation results in 100-neutral base oil and 300-neutral base oil.
  5. Transport to blender to make into finished lubricants.

Rerefined Oil Home

Last updated: January 1, 1998
Used Oil Recycling Program, http://www.calrecycle.ca.gov/UsedOil/
Contact: UsedOilHHW@calrecycle.ca.gov (916) 341-6457