sed refrigerant oils are not specifically governed under

EPA refrigerant recycling regulations. Used refrigerant

oil is, however, subject t o EPA regulations that address all
used oils-. EPAs Used Oil regulations were established t o
encourage. used oil recycling. These regulations create two
categories of oil based on the following criteria:

Cadmium..........

............
Used oil that meets all the allowable levels, or on-specification
oil, may be recycled o r burned for energy recovery through
established, readily available, and economically feasible markets.
Off-specificationoil is subject t o more stringent regulation and
often times, due t o lack of available off-specification oil recycling
facilities, must be managed as hazardous waste. Hazardous
waste disposal is significantly more expensive than conventional,
on-specification used oil recycling.
oil contained in most air conditioning and refrigeration systems
is in continual contact with halogenated hydrocarbon refrigerants
(CFCs and HCFCs). Due t o the miscibility of oil and refrigerant,
used refrigerant oil often becomes contaminated with chlorine
and fluorine (halogens) a t concentrations greater than 4,000
ppm. As a .result, used refrigerant oil must be categorized as off-
specificailon used oil.
Refrigerant oil is generated in relatively small quantities at
numerous types of facilities, including those t h a t are not
t r aditiondly considered hazardous waste generators (i.e. office
Protection of Stratospheric Ozone; Fkhgei-ant Recycling - Title 40 of the Code of
Federal Re,plations [CFR], Part 82 I
K CFR.Part 2-79
1
mildmgs, grocery stores and warehouses). For these types ol
Facilities, properly managing used refXgerant oil may be unfamiliar
and costly. Furthermore, contracted air conditioning and refriger-
3tion service companies will be hesitant, and perhaps prohibited
3y law, to accept and transport off-specificationused oil from the
sites where it is generated.

The Refrigerant Oil Reclamation (ROR) Project was undertaken

,o develop a simple method t o reduce halogen concentration in
ised refrigerant oil to a level where conventional used oil recycling
Iptions can be used. The ROR project has created a technique t o
uccessfully remove and capture halogens from refrigerant oil
This used oil will then be acceptable for normal used oil recycling

The selected method is a variation of distillation. The refrigerani

3il is heated t o approximately 250'F for up t o 6 hours in al:
2nclosed container. The container is plumbed t o a conventionaj
refrigerant recovery unit to condense and collect the refrigeranl
gases volatilized from the heated oil. Initial results show totaj
halogen reductions of 85 t o over 90 percent for R-12, R-22, and
R-113 contaminated refrigerant oil. In all cases, final halogen
:oncentrations below the EPA action level of 4,000 ppm were
lbtained. Additional studies using larger test batches are currentlj
3eing conducted.
Caution!: Allow oil t o cool or use
appropriate personal safety gear prior
to handling treated oil.

.
Caution!: Heating used refrigerant
oil in an enclosed container can result
in high pressures. Assure continual
3peration of the refrigerant recovery
unit or install a pressure relief valve in
the line exiting the oil can.

PROCEDURE
FOR SMALL QUANTITIES OF USED REFRIGERANT OIL
This process uses a standard 2.5 gallon gasoline can, refrigerant
recovery unit, conventional HVAC gauges, hoses and fittings,
vacuum pump and a hot plate t o heat oil and remove and
capture halogens.
Used refrigerant oil is heated in a vacuum-compatible container,
which is plumbed t o a refrigerant recovery unit. As the oil is
heated, the refrigerant contained in the oil vaporizes and is
collected by the recovery unit. As the refrigerant concentration
decreases, so do the halogen levels.
Used oil subjected to this procedure should result in on-spec oil,
acceptable for recycling through conventional recycling options.

3
 I

12. Remove the gaskets fiom the caps. (Set aside t.n
be
reinstalled.) I
I
I

I!
I

i
rill pilot hole

T . - size until the 1/3NPT side of a I

increase hole half union I
./4
flare t o male pipe thread fitting can be threNaded into the
I
I
cap, and install in hole. i
I
 Fill the gas can with water.

Install pour cap on the gas can.

Braze t o join the pour cap and the union flare fitting for a
leak proof joint. (Apply the majority of the heat to the fitting
t o prevent warping of metal.)

Let gas can cool.

Remove water and dry gas can thoroughly.

LO. Teflon tape the treads on the gas can.

11. Lightly oil gaskets and reinstall in caps.

 I

12. Install caps on gas can.

13. Test seal by pulling vacuum on the can. (For best results,
the gas can should hold 15 Hg. for approximately five
minutes or longer.)

14. Paint gas can and label Refrigerant Oil Only

6
 I

-
jteo 2 Setup and Connections
,mila)

= Hot Plate

1-J
I

I
Refrigerant
Recovery Unit
i
I
1
)I I

I
w
i
1
!

Refrigerant Cylinder
Connect refrigerant oil can to low pressure gauge manifold
port A on service manifold gauge set.

Connect refrigerant recovery unit to charging and evacuation

port of manifold gauge port B on service manifold gauge set.

Connect vacuum pump to high side pressure gauge manifold

port C on the service manifold gauge set.
Follow refrigerant recovery unit manufacturer's setup
instructions.
bte: Refrigeration unit must be capable of continuous operation
'henpulling a vacuum to avoid pressurization of the oil can.
7
 -
Steg 3 Operation
1. Open high and low side gauge valves on service manifold.

2. Close inlet valve on recovery unit.

3. Start vacuum pump and operate until 15 Hg is indicated on

low pressure gauge. (This procedure is necessary t o remove
air in the oil can and t o facilitate refrigerant recovery.)

L Close high side gauge valve on service manifold and shut off
vacuum pump.

3. Observe low pressure gauge for leakage rate. (If pressure

raises to 0 PSI rapidly, find and repair leak.)
n
3. Turn on hot plate. Heat oil to approximately 250OF.

7. Open inlet valve on refrigerant recovery unit and operate

according to manufacturers operating manual.

3. Operate approximately 2 hours for each gallon of R-12 and

R-22 and 6 hours for R-113.

8
 3. Shut-off equipment and let oil cool.
While the above procedure should yield an oil that is acceptable
t o most used oil recycling companies, data documenting the
halogen concentration may be required. In order to minimize
laboratory costs, a 15,30-, or 55-gallon collection drum may
be used. The drum should be clearly labeled Used Oil and
maintained in good condition. Only treated refrigerant oil
should be placed in this drum. When the drum is nearly full,
a representative sample of the oil should be collected and
submitted t o a local laboratory for total halogen analysis
(analysis methods E-325.3 and E-340.2). Expect a lab cost of
approximately $35.00. If a halogen concentration of less
than 4,000 ppm (mgkg) is detected, the treated oil may be
recycled through conventional used oil recycling companies
and drop-off locations. If a halogen concentration in excess
of 4,000 ppm is detected, check equipment and repeat the
treatment procedure.
dl
?rocedures to treat larger quantities of oil in commercially available
equipment (i.e. solvent stills) are currently being developed.
auestions or requests for additional copies can be addressed to
Iowa Waste Reduction Center
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0185
Tel. (319)2 73-20 79
Fax. (319)273-2926

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 I

Sample Log Sheet

Date
Quantity
(gal) Temp Time
Final Halogen
Concentration
1