Life Cycle Carbon Footprint of Re-Refined versus Base Oil That Is Not Re-Refined
2014
Grice, Lisa N. | Nobel, Carolyn E. | Longshore, Lin | Huntley, Ramsay | DeVierno, Ashley L.
Consumers, communities, and regulators are focusing on recycling as a method to potentially reduce environmental impacts. One such recycling approach, the re-refining of used motor oil, is purported to avoid the greenhouse gases (GHG) associated with extracting and processing crude oil, as well as the emissions associated with alternative used oil management methods. This study analyzed the relative GHG reduction benefits of re-refining used motor oil by quantifying the life cycle carbon footprint associated with one gallon of re-refined base oil and contrasting that with the life cycle carbon footprint of an equivalent product derived from virgin stock that is not re-refined. The carbon footprint analysis included the GHG emissions associated with raw material extraction and processing, transportation, manufacturing, and waste management based on Safety-Kleen Systems primary data for re-refining. Safety-Kleen Systems is the largest producer of re-refined oil in North America. All other data was derived from best available secondary sources. The analysis showed that the carbon footprint of re-refined base oil is 81% lower than virgin stock-derived base oil that is not re-refined. This difference is primarily due to differences in emissions associated with base oil production and used oil end of life between the two systems studied.
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