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

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…