Chemical Sub-micronic Particle Removal From Oil

Additives may not be needed. Cartridge filters are available that will cope with this sort of particle size.

doing trials haven't found one that actually works yet!

Hey PW, there really are no cartridge filters that will handle his need cost effectively. The pressures required and consumption rate would most likley outwieght the cost savings to recycle.

Were the particles to be a paramagnetic material then magnetism could be used to accelerate the removal process; many sump plugs in vehicle engines contain a magnet that collects fine particles. The plug is simply cleaned at each oil-change operation.

If you concentrate the particles in that size range, either by filtration or flocculation, you will end up with heavy metals, then you will need to dispose of hazardous waste. Stay above 5 microns. I say this with respect to used oil, otherwise why filter it. In our waste oil treatment process, we used acid and a proprietary polymer, at an elevated temperature to settle out contaminates, including water.

I need to treat it for re-use your process I believe strips the oil of it's additives?

The settling of particles means that gravity is capable of doing this work. Increase the gravity and you increase the rate of settling. I think your answer lies in some sort of contiuous pusher centrifuge.

Trials have confirmed the claim that an Alfa Laval centrifuge cannot remove particles below 2um.

Filters for hydraulic fluid are commonly available for 25 or 10 microns at any hydraulic shop, but 2, 3 and 5 microns are easily available by special order.

I am not sure what you will do if you really need a 1 micron, but perhaps a 2 with a higher beta rating may be enough

https://dynamic.donaldson.com/webc/WebStore/hierarchy/hierarchy.html?section=10055

Further trials occuring

Why do you want to remove the 1mu and below particulate?

My company treats oil for re-use. I am researching existing/new methods that I can incorporate. In some oils I fillter down to 3um Beta=200 but it will not catch sub 1um. Why is it inportant... because when there is zillions of particles the oil is discoloured and on high pressure hydraulic systems it increases wear rates.

I can see why you were considering chemical methods. Flocculants will not work (as I know them) they are designed for use in water based products. A centrifuge is not likley to prove cost effective at those micron levels. You would likley find yourself shearing the product at the speeds required. If the particulate is all ferrous, and you have some time, then rare earth magnets might work. If you have the ability to set it up, I would also suggest trying the home insulating product by Dupont called "Tyvek". It is like a membrane used in R/O systems but will pass oil under about 60 PSIG. It has a 1 MU absolute rating, so after a few passes you would have a good chance at catching most particles. Have you done a particle count by volume?

I make a pressure filter for industrial reclamation of machining coolants. I might be willing to Beta test a process if there is enough potential to justify the costs.

Particle count by volume...I use 100ml through 0.45um membrane -patch test similar to a filtergram amd also a lab centrifuge (18ml tube) it shows a thin deposit only on the bottom.

What beta rating is you filter?? Where ru based? USA?

USA. The filter is a machine, we can run just about any rated media through it. Email joet@greatlakespump.com