OIL RECYCLING
The re-refining process typically follows these core stages:Collection & Preparation: Used oils are collected and screened to ensure they meet quality thresholds and are free of excessive contaminants like PCBs.Dehydration & Defueling: The waste oil is heated to evaporate water and separate out lighter fuels (like gasoline) that may have mixed in. These separated fuels are often burned to power the refinery itself.Vacuum Distillation: The dehydrated oil is pumped into a vacuum distillation tower where it is heated. This separates the oil into different fractions based on boiling points, extracting the usable "lube cut" (the core component for base oils) and leaving behind heavy residues like asphalt extenders.Hydrotreating (Catalytic Hydrogenation): The separated lube cut undergoes catalytic treatment under high pressure and temperature with hydrogen. This breaks down remaining impurities, strips out unstable compounds, and produces a clear, pure base oil.Polishing: Some facilities use a final polishing step—such as clay filtration or advanced regenerative media—to improve the color, odor, and stability of the final oil product.