Removing Motor Oil During Vehicle Depollution Begins the Process
Dr Jason R. Brown, General Manager of Industry and Transport Technology, Shell, discusses how the removal of oils through vehicle depollution contributes to the circular economy.
Vehicle depollution is an important element in the circular economy. The ability to use some vehicle parts again on other vehicles or to be disassembled for recycling and proper disposal are significant contributors to automotive industry sustainability efforts.
Draining fluids from a vehicle is an essential part of vehicle depollution, and one key element is to remove used motor oil from the engine and crankcase. While draining and properly disposing of used motor oil is necessary to keep it from getting into the ground and potentially affecting water supplies, the process does not have to end there.
Once drained, used motor oil can often be recycled and used again by removing any of the old additives or contamination that has accumulated over time and be treated to produce high-quality base oil that still has useful life. This re-refined base oil (RRBO) can then be used again to produce new lubricants, helping to reduce waste and emissions associated with traditional motor oil production process.
By unlocking the potential of post-consumer waste, RRBOs are an example of “closing the loop” of an industrial process. Closing the loop through the use of re-refined base oil helps create a circular economy extending the useful life of the material (use/clean-up/use again). Shell is working to make strides towards a more efficient future for our customers and society. One key question from customers guides our thinking about the products and services we offer to them: “How do we help lower the environmental impact of our business and provide more sustainable fluid solutions for our customers?”
Sustainability is top of mind for every industry, so the demand for circular economy lubricants such as those made with RRBOs is growing. The three most important benefits cited as: a reduced environmental impact; the ability to help position companies and their brands as operating sustainably; and their contribution towards achieving regulatory compliance1.
All of which are reasons why developing lubricants made from RRBOs is a simple way Shell can support our customers in working towards their sustainability goals. Although not all RRBO quality are the same, with the improvement in technology, it is possible to produce high-quality RRBO with similar performance as virgin base oils. Shell uses only the highest quality RRBO, which is produced by an innovative refining process, to avoid compromising the high standards for product performance and protection while also meeting OEM approvals. The oils provide the added benefits of reduced waste and a lower carbon footprint thanks to a less energy-intensive production process. This also plays an important part in the circular economy and sustainability strategy at Shell, helping our customers across all sectors to decarbonize their operations and to provide them with more and cleaner energy solutions for the future.
RRBOs have been around for some time, but there are many questions about them. Below are answers to a few common questions about some misconceptions concerning RRBOs.
When is RRBO used, and what is its main purpose?
- RRBO can be used in the same targeted applications as virgin base oil across the Shell portfolio of low and medium viscosity lubricants. RRBO typical values are less carbon-intensive overall, reducing the environmental impact of new lubricants that are subsequently made.
Why is the use of RRBO growing?
- RRBO quality is better than ever due to technological advances. However, quality can vary significantly depending on the specific region and supply sources. Shell maintains the highest standards for our RRBO by using the same rigorous testing used for virgin base stocks and by working with manufacturers to ensure the consistent production of high-quality RRBO.
- The use of RRBO offers circularity and lower carbon intensive solutions, generating fewer CO2 emissions2.
- Evolving regulations are driving growing demand for RRBO, with markets like China, Germany and the U.S. forecast to grow by almost 20% over the next five years3.
- RRBO also allows us to diversify our base oil sourcing, thus allowing us to enhance the security of supply to our customers.
Are RRBOs a lower quality than virgin base oils?
- Many re-refiners are already using advanced processes designed to refine high-quality used oil. The RRBOs we use at Shell undergo rigorous testing prior to use and work just as well as virgin stocks in targeted applications while helping customers to operate with a circular economy mindset.
Do RRBOs perform consistently over time?
- Modern lubricants produced with high-quality RRBO offer consistent performance over the course of the motor oil drain interval. However, like all lubricants, motor oil condition monitoring services should be used to determine motor oil quality. Motor oils using RRBO must meet the same industry standard specifications and various OEM approvals as those made with virgin base oils.
Shell has set itself an ambition to be a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050 or sooner. A primary goal is to respect nature in regard to biodiversity, water, circular economy and waste, and air quality. Part of this effort is supporting the use of circular economy lubricants, including those made with RRBOs, as one of the solutions to mitigate the overall environmental impact of lubricants. Shell believes that safely draining and recycling used motor oil and other lubricants from a vehicle at regular maintenance intervals and during depollution is a vital part of the process of creating a more sustainable and circular economy for lubricants.
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1Frost & Sullivan. “The Circular Economy of Lubricants.” 02 July 2021
2ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, “Life Cycle Carbon Footprint of Re-Refined versus Base Oil That Is Not Re-Refined”, 2014, Research Gate [accessed 29 September 2021]
3ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, “Life Cycle Carbon Footprint of Re-Refined versus Base Oil That Is Not Re-Refined”, 2014, Research Gate [accessed 29 September 2021]
