Method of processing oil refining waste

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method of processing oil refining waste, the method comprising feeding the waste into a vessel and heating the waste such that it liberates volatile hydrocarbons, wherein the waste is heated using far infrared radiation, and wherein the liberated volatile hydrocarbons are collected for subsequent use.

1 . A method of processing oil refining waste, the method comprising feeding the waste into a vessel and heating the waste such that it liberates volatile hydrocarbons, wherein the waste is heated using far infrared radiation, and wherein the liberated volatile hydrocarbons are collected for subsequent use. 
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising feeding into the vessel plastic material. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the far infrared radiation is provided by a plurality of far infrared radiation heaters that are each at least in part immersed within the waste. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , wherein the far infrared heaters are in the form of ceramic rod elements sheathed with stainless steel sleaves that are coated with an emitter compound. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the waste is heated to a temperature ranging from about 360° C. to about 450° C. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claims 1 , wherein the volatile hydrocarbons are collected using a reflux column fractionator. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the collected volatile hydrocarbons comprise at least one of a diesel, gasoline, and liquid petroleum gas (LPG) fraction. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1  further comprising discharging from the vessel a substantially non-volatile residue formed as a result of heating the waste. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , wherein the discharged residue is heated using far infrared radiation or microwave radiation to drive off any residual volatile hydrocarbons. 
     
     
         10 . A hydrocarbon product produced in accordance with the method of  claim 1 .