Method for regenerating lube oil dispersant

Abstract

A method of regenerating used dispersant incorporated into lubricating oil is provided. The method comprises the steps of supplying used lubricating oil having dispersant molecules suspending particulate matter into a regenerating chamber; releasing the particulate matter by creating a stress on the bond between the dispersant molecules and the suspended particulate matter; permitting the released particulate matter to agglomerate; removing the agglomerated particulate matter from the lubricating oil; and discharging the lubricating oil back to the engine. An alternative method comprises the steps of supplying used lubricating oil having non-metallic polymer dispersant molecules suspending particulate matter into a capturing chamber, the dispersant molecules having polar ends and non-polar tails; interacting the used lubricating oil with an oil-insoluble capturing composition having a binding affinity for the particulate matter that is greater than that of the polar ends of the dispersant molecules to displace the suspended particulate matter and bind the particulate matter to the capturing composition within the capturing chamber; and discharging the lubricating oil back to the engine.

1 . A method of regenerating used dispersant incorporated into lubricating oil, comprising the steps of:
 supplying used lubricating oil having dispersant molecules suspending particulate matter into a regenerating chamber;   releasing the particulate matter by creating a stress on the bond between the dispersant molecules and the suspended particulate matter;   permitting the released particulate matter to agglomerate;   removing the agglomerated particulate matter from the lubricating oil; and   discharging the lubricating oil back to the engine.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the particulate matter comprises diesel engine soot. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the dispersant is selected from the group consisting of substituted and polyamine succinamides, polyhydroxy succinic esters, polybutene hydroxy benzyl polyamines, and copolymers of polymethacryaltes and styrenemaleinic esters. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lubricating oil further comprises an auxiliary regeneration additive. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agglomerated particulate matter is removed from the lubricating oil with a centrifuge. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the agglomerated particulate matter is removed from the lubricating oil by filtration. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein an increase in temperature within the regenerating chamber creates the stress on the bond between the dispersant molecules and the suspended particulate matter. 
     
     
         8 . A method of regenerating used dispersant incorporated into lubricating oil, comprising the steps of:
 supplying used lubricating oil having non-metallic polymer dispersant molecules suspending particulate matter into a capturing chamber, the dispersant molecules having polar ends and non-polar tails;   interacting the used lubricating oil with an oil-insoluble capturing composition having a binding affinity for the particulate matter that is greater than that of the polar ends of the dispersant molecules to displace the suspended particulate matter and bind the particulate matter to the capturing composition within the capturing chamber; and   discharging the lubricating oil back to the engine.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the particulate matter comprises diesel engine soot. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the dispersant is selected from the group consisting of substituted and polyamine succinamides, polyhydroxy succinic esters, polybutene hydroxy benzyl polyamines, and copolymers of polymethacryaltes and styrenemaleinic esters. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the capturing composition is disposed on a surface of fibrous media within the capturing chamber. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the capturing composition within the capturing chamber comprises a solvent phase. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein solvent phase comprises two contiguous stages having equal volumes of solvent with which the lubricating oil is sequentially mixed. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein solvent phase comprises several contiguous stages having smaller volumes of solvent with which the lubricating oil is sequentially mixed.