Fractionation and Characterization of Sludge Produced on the Recycling of Fossil Fuels and Mineral Oils

The cleaning operations of oil tanks and ships or the pretreatment of used mineral oils produce large amounts of oil sludge that can be classified as a hazardous waste. The oily sludge is a complex emulsion of hydrocarbons, water and mineral components many of which are toxic, so there is an increasing interest in the development of new technologies for remediation or stabilization of this sludge (Hu, Li, & Zeng, 2013). In Portugal these sludges have been, so far, co-incinerated or landfilled. Nevertheless, their high contents in polyaromatic hydrocarbons and in some cases heavy metals result in high environmental pressures associated with these disposal methods. This study intended to explore the oil sludge fractionation by distillation as a methodology for the isolation of homogeneous fractions that can be further remediated or valorized by different technologies.