Used lubricants often pose serious pollution problems because of illegal dumping or improper disposal resulting in groundwater, surface water and soil contamination. Direct combustion of these used lubricants without any pre- treatment is subject to environmental restrictions as these waste oils may contain toxic and hazardous residues such as metal and metalloid particles, chlorinated compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other residues which may be released into the atmosphere.
However, a proper collection system and treatment process for utilizing used lubricants would reduce its environmental impacts as well as preserve valuable resources [5]. 13–15% of the oil produced is used in open lubricating systems and hence it will unavoidably enter the environment as lost lubricants [8].
Today, industry is concerned with the impact process technologies and products exert on the environment. In addition, there is a general tendency to promote both the replacement of non-renewable raw materials by renewable resources as well as minimizing environmental impact caused by industrial waste materials. Consequently, a new market based on eco-friendly products is developing quite fast, where consumers are determined to use new products or even pay higher prices for alternative materials with reduced negative environmental effects. Many people have used waste lubricants for dust prevention [9]. This method of disposal is in many ways unsatisfactory as the leadbearing dust and run-off, constitute air and water pollution.