Solutions / JY-DMF5 Rotating Membrane Filter Powers Waste Oil Reclamation Degumming
Lubricants & Reclamation
JY-DMF5 Rotating Membrane Filter Powers Waste Oil Reclamation Degumming
Waste Oil Reclamation Degumming
Key outcomes
- Gum removal rate approximately 90%: gum removal rate reaches approximately 90%, significantly improving finished oil quality (customer feedback)
- Flux stability improved approximately 3 times: compared to static membrane, filtration flux stability improved by approximately 3 times
- Continuous operation: achieves automated continuous production, reducing frequent shutdown for cleaning
Case Study
Stage 1 · Customer Problem
📋 Customer Background & Pain Points
An environmental lubricant refinery is an enterprise focused on the resource recovery and utilization of waste lubricants. The distillate oil obtained through vacuum distillation contains large quantities of oxidized polymers, carbon black, and gums, which affect the catalyst life and finished oil oxidation stability in subsequent hydrogenation processes. In the waste oil reclamation process, gum treatment has always been a customer challenge:
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Rapid Membrane Fouling
Gums in waste lubricants have strong adhesion. Traditional dead-end or cross-flow filtration rapidly forms a dense "gel layer" on the membrane surface, causing a drastic decline in flux.
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Color & Odor Defects
If gums are not completely removed, reclaimed base oil will change color (yellowing/blackening) during storage and develop odors, degrading product value.
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High Centrifuge Maintenance
Centrifugal degumming was previously attempted, but due to the similar density of gums and oil, separation was poor, efficiency was low, and mechanical repair costs were high.
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Non-Continuous Process
Traditional plate-and-frame or bag filtration requires frequent manual replacement of consumables, unable to match continuous operation demands and causing value loss in recovered oil.
Stage 2 · Fuel Analysis (NEW)
🧪 Waste Oil Before / After Analysis
Lab analysis of the waste lubricant distillate before and after JY-DMF5 rotating membrane treatment:
| Parameter | Before | After | Improvement |
|---|
| ISO 4406 Cleanliness | ~24/22/19 | 16/14/11 | 3 levels ↓ |
| TAN (mgKOH/g) | ~2.5 | ≤0.5 | ≥80% ↓ |
| Gum Content (mg/100mL) | ~50 | ≤5 | ≥90% ↓ |
| Color | Dark brown / black | Amber / transparent | Significant |
| Viscosity (40°C) | Out of spec | Within spec | Restored |
| Water Content (ppm) | ~500 | ≤100 | ≥80% ↓ |
Analysis based on waste lubricant distillate feedstock; actual values vary with feedstock source and operating conditions.
Stage 3 · Solution
🛠️ JY-DMF5 Rotating Membrane System
The customer introduced the JY-DMF5 rotating membrane system, leveraging Taylor-Couette dynamic shear to address gums in high-viscosity waste oil:
Dynamic shear force (anti-fouling): The membrane disc rotates at high speed under motor drive, generating Taylor-Couette vortices and shear force on the membrane surface, continuously washing away attempting-to-adhere gums, suppressing gel layer formation, and maintaining high flux. Polymer Rigid Composite Membrane: oleophilic properties allow lubricant molecules to permeate quickly while viscous gums are intercepted. The system is equipped with online CIP (clean-in-place) functionality and temperature monitoring to prevent excessive oil temperature caused by high-speed shear.
Technology
Taylor-Couette Dynamic Shear
Membrane Material
Polymer Rigid Composite (Oleophilic)
Energy Consumption
~0.2 kW/m² (80% savings vs tubular cross-flow)
Suitable Fluid
High-viscosity waste oil
Stage 4 · Results
📈 Treatment Results & Performance
By deploying the JY-DMF5 rotating membrane system, the refinery achieved automated, continuous degumming in its waste oil reclamation process, effectively protecting downstream hydrogenation catalysts and meeting continuous-operation requirements.
3×
Flux Stability vs Static Membrane
¥0
Annual Consumables Cost
| Metric | Before | After | Result |
|---|
| Gum Removal Rate | — | ≥90% | Target met |
| TAN Reduction | ~2.5 mgKOH/g | ≤0.5 mgKOH/g | ≥80% ↓ |
| Color | Dark brown / black | Amber / transparent | Significant |
| Reclaimed Oil Recovery | Value loss | Recovery improved | Upgraded |
| Annual Consumables Cost | High (frequent replacement) | ¥0 (no disposable cartridges) | Eliminated |
Stage 5 · Lessons Learned (NEW)
💡 Lessons Learned & Replication
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Key Success Factor
The Taylor-Couette dynamic shear design is uniquely suited for high-viscosity waste oil. By continuously washing the membrane surface, it solves the gel-layer fouling problem that plagues traditional filter media, enabling stable continuous operation.
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Common Pitfall
Traditional centrifugal treatment of waste oil is inefficient and maintenance-intensive, and critically cannot remove dissolved gums and oxidation products — leading to color reversion and catalyst poisoning downstream.
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Replication Advice
Applicable to all waste mineral oil / lubricant reclamation facilities, especially those handling high-viscosity, high-gum-content feedstocks. The zero-consumable design also suits operations targeting lower operating costs and continuous production.
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Customer feedback
Treating gums in reclaimed oil is like filtering glue. We previously tried various solutions with unsatisfactory results. The JY-DMF5 rotating membrane technology addresses the problems that static filtration struggles with through a "dynamic" approach. It not only filters cleanly but, more importantly, operates stably, basically meeting our refinery's continuous operation requirements.
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