Chemists Turn Used Motor Oil into Gas

Source: Scientific American, Steve Mirsky (3/29/11)

". . .Beats tossing the oil down the drain."

To keep your car purring, you have to change the oil. Such maintenance produces eight billion gallons of used motor oil annually. Some waste oil does get re-refined to produce oil for lubrication or heating, and some just gets dumped. So it would be more environmentally friendly and provide fresh fuel if we could convert the old motor oil to something really valuable: new gasoline.

That's what a research team thinks they've done. They presented their work at the annual meeting of the American Chemical Society. Their findings are published in the report by Alan Russell and Howard Chase, "From waste to valuable fuel: How microwave-heated pyrolysis can recycle waste automotive engine oil ."

Their approach involves pyrolysis, decomposing organic material with heat in the absence of oxygen. Pyrolysis can break down waste oil into gases, liquids, a little bit of solids. The gases and liquids can be converted into gas or diesel.

The new technique mixes the oil with a material really good at absorbing microwave radiation. Tests showed that heating this mixture with microwaves was about 90% efficient at creating precursors to fuel—which beats tossing the oil down the drain.

Option Partner to Continue Operations at Energy Firm's Texas Oil & Gas Project
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/23/2021)

The efforts will meet Torchlight Energy Resources' development requirements at Hazel.

Target Price Raised on Energy Firm Making 'Transformative Acquisition'
Source: Streetwise Reports (01/06/2021)

The terms and benefits of Earthstone Energy's purchase of an oil and gas company, an "eye-catching act of deal making," are presented in a ROTH Capital Partners report.

Energy Firm to Combine with Materials, Nanocomposites Company
Source: Streetwise Reports (12/16/2020)

Torchlight Energy Resources sees the transaction providing its shareholders "access to the multibillion-dollar markets that Metamaterial serves."

Oil & Gas Producer Reports on Thailand Operations
Source: Streetwise Reports (12/02/2020)

Pan Orient Energy Corp. reports on continuing drill operations in Thailand.

Energy Company Boosts Thailand Oil Production, Offers 'Low Risk Production Growth'
Source: Streetwise Reports (11/19/2020)

The highlights of Pan Orient Energy's third quarter are presented in a Mackie Research Capital Corp. report.

Texas Oil & Gas Firm to Sell Its Stake in Delaware Basin Project
Source: Streetwise Reports (11/18/2020)

For its interest, Torchlight Energy Resources is to receive $350,000.

Oil & Gas Firm Reports Q3 Operational, Financial Results
Source: Streetwise Reports (11/16/2020)

Pan Orient Energy and its joint venture partner continue producing and selling oil from its L53 Concession in Thailand, which are funding ongoing exploration work there.

Texas Oil & Gas Explorer Completes Fracking of Midland Basin Well
Source: Streetwise Reports (11/11/2020)

The next step for Torchlight Energy's well at Hazel is flowback, which is to start next week.

Altus Midstream Shares Flow Higher on Q3 Earnings and Plans for $1.50/Share Dividend in Q1/21
Source: Streetwise Reports (11/05/2020)

Shares of Altus Midstream Co. traded 170% higher after the firm reported Q3/20 financial results and announced plans to pay a quarterly dividend of $1.50 per share beginning in March 2021.