From the value chain to environmental management of used lube oil: A baseline study in Bangladesh

Abstract

The performance, service life, and energy-economic efficiency of an engine depend on the quality of lubricants. In Bangladesh, yearly lube oil consumption increases by 12% against a 3.42% global increasing rate. American Petroleum Institute (API) has introduced upgraded standards of lube oils with resource conservation and improved compatibility for the protection of turbochargers of engines. Bangladesh is still following the obsolete standards instead of practicing the upgraded ones. Adequate codes and standards, regulations, policies, and guidelines for effective quality control and application of lubricants are not available in Bangladesh. Many unregistered oil re-refining plants are regenerating low-grade lube oil and mix with fresh lube oils. This adulterated lube oil is damaging expensive machinery. Often, the used lube oil is burnt or disposed of on land and water, causing harm to the environment. This paper reviews the lube oil codes and standards at home and abroad. A short survey on the value chain of lube oil from source to the consumer in Bangladesh is performed. In addition, the demand and supply trends and the management of used lubricants are studied. So far, this baseline study of lube oil in Bangladesh is the first of its kind. It can serve as a basis for developing regulations, policies, guidelines, and standards to improve lube oil management practices in Bangladesh.

Keywords

• Base oil
• Engine oil codes and standards
• Lube oil demand and supply
• Lube oil refining
• Used oil composition