Potentials of African Star Apple (Chrysophyllum albidum) Fruit Shell Adsorbent in Recovery of Valuable Hydrocarbons for Spent Engine Oil

Abstract

Inventory of spent engine oil continuously increase and indiscriminately disposed of at auto-mechanics garages. Adsorptive separation established to be indispensable in recovery of these hydrocarbons was carried out using Chrysophyllum albidum (African star apple) fruit shell – a renewable resource. In this study, clay pretreated spent engine oil was recovered in a fixed bed adsorption processes and the recovered adsorbate components determined by GC-MS analysis. The results showed African star apple fruit shell adsorbent effective in recovering n-hexane solubilized spent lubricating oil. The study concluded that using the developed African star apple fruit shell adsorbent, an agricultural waste adsorbent in the recovery of waste lubricating oil will enhance greatly the nation’s economy.