Process for de-chlorinating and de-fouling oil

A method for reducing the propensity of used oil to foul, comprising the steps of:

• removing from a quantity of said used oil substantially all water and light fuel, having a boiling point below about 300 F at atmospheric pressure, and at least a portion of any commercial solvent, and glycol contamination,
• heating said quantity of said used oil to a temperature in the range of approximately 400 F to 700 F,
• maintaining said quantity of said used oil within said temperature range for an average residence time of no less than several minutes,
• contacting said quantity of used oil with a substantially non-oxidizing gas during said residence time.

A method for reducing the propensity of used oil to foul, comprising the steps of:

• removing substantially all water from a quantity of said used oil using a distillation process,
• burning a substantial portion of said water and any fuel removed therewith, without condensation,
• heating a quantity of said used oil to a temperature in the range of approximately 400 F to 700 F,
• maintaining said used oil within said temperature range for an average residence time of no less than several minutes,
• contacting said heated oil with a substantially non-oxidizing gas during said residence time.

A method for reducing the propensity of used oil to foul, comprising the steps of:

• heating a quantity of said used oil to a temperature in the range of approximately 400 F to 700 F,
• maintaining said used oil within said temperature range for an average residence time of no less than several minutes,
• contacting said heated used oil with a substantially non-oxidizing gas during said residence time,
• vacuum distilling at least a portion of said quantity of used oil in a vacuum column to produce at least one distillate fraction and a heavier residue.

A method for reducing the propensity of used oil to foul, comprising the steps of:

• heating a quantity of said used oil to a temperature in the range of approximately 400 F to 700 F,
• maintaining said used oil within said temperature range for an average residence time of no less than several minutes,
• contacting said heated used oil with a substantially non-oxidizing gas during said residence time,
• vacuum distilling at least a portion of said quantity of used oil in a vacuum column to produce at least one distillate fraction and a heavier residue, wherein a partial pressure of said used oil is reduced below its absolute pressure during said vacuum distilling step.

A method for reducing the propensity of used oil to foul, comprising the steps of:

• heating a quantity of said used oil to a temperature in the range of approximately 400 F to 700 F,
• maintaining said used oil within said temperature range for an average residence time of no less than several minutes,
• contacting said heated used oil with a substantially non-oxidizing gas during said residence time,
• vacuum distilling at least a portion of said quantity of used oil in a vacuum column to produce at least one distillate fraction and a heavier residue,
• finishing at least a portion of said at least one distillate fraction to a base oil using a solvent extraction process.

A method for reducing the propensity of used oil to foul, comprising the steps of:

• heating a quantity of said used oil to a temperature in the range of approximately 400 F to 700 F,
• maintaining said used oil within said temperature range for an average residence time of no less than several minutes,
• contacting said heated used oil with a substantially non-oxidizing gas during said residence time,
• breaking up bubbles in said used oil during said gas contacting step.

A method for reducing the propensity of used oil to foul, comprising the steps of:

• removing from a quantity of said used oil substantially all water and light fuel, having a boiling point below about 300 F at atmospheric pressure, and at least a portion of any commercial solvent, and glycol contamination,
• heating said quantity of said used oil to a temperature in the range of approximately 400 F to 700 F,
• maintaining said quantity of said used oil within said temperature range for an average residence time of no less than fifteen minutes,
• contacting said quantity of used oil with a substantially non-oxidizing gas during said residence time.

A method for reducing the propensity of used oil to foul, comprising the steps of:

• removing substantially all water from a quantity of said used oil using a distillation process,
• burning a substantial portion of said water and any fuel removed therewith, without condensation,
• heating a quantity of said used oil to a temperature in the range of approximately 400 F to 700 F,
• maintaining said used oil within said temperature range for an average residence time of no less than fifteen minutes,
• contacting said heated oil with a substantially non-oxidizing gas during said residence time.

A method for reducing the propensity of used oil to foul, comprising the steps of:

• heating a quantity of said used oil to a temperature in the range of approximately 400 F to 700 F,
• maintaining said used oil within said temperature range for an average residence time of no less than fifteen minutes,
• contacting said heated used oil with a substantially non-oxidizing gas during said residence time,
• vacuum distilling at least a portion of said quantity of used oil in a vacuum column to produce at least one distillate fraction and a heavier residue.

A method for reducing the propensity of used oil to foul, comprising the steps of:

• heating a quantity of said used oil to a temperature in the range of approximately 400 F to 700 F,
• maintaining said used oil within said temperature range for an average residence time of no less than fifteen minutes,
• contacting said heated used oil with a substantially non-oxidizing gas during said residence time,
• vacuum distilling at least a portion of said quantity of used oil in a vacuum column to produce at least one distillate fraction and a heavier residue, wherein a partial pressure of said used oil is reduced below its absolute pressure during said vacuum distilling step.

A method for reducing the propensity of used oil to foul, comprising the steps of:

• heating a quantity of said used oil to a temperature in the range of approximately 400 F to 700 F,
• maintaining said used oil within said temperature range for an average residence time of no less than fifteen minutes,
• contacting said heated used oil with a substantially non-oxidizing gas during said residence time,
• vacuum distilling at least a portion of said quantity of used oil in a vacuum column to produce at least one distillate fraction and a heavier residue,
• finishing at least a portion of said at least one distillate fraction to a base oil using a solvent extraction process.

A method for reducing the propensity of used oil to foul, comprising the steps of:

• heating a quantity of said used oil to a temperature in the range of approximately 400 F to 700 F,
• maintaining said used oil within said temperature range for an average residence time of no less than fifteen minutes,
• contacting said heated used oil with a substantially non-oxidizing gas during said residence time,
• breaking up bubbles in said used oil during said gas contacting step.