The impact of lubricants used in the rubber industry on the quality of generated wastewater. Recycling of lubricants in the production process

The study presents research on the impact of lubricants on the quality of wastewater generated in a plant producing rubber hoses and the possibility of recovering and returning these agents to the production process. The research was carried out at the Hutchinson Żywiec 2 plant (Southern Poland). There were six different lubricants with different performance properties tested. The lubricants from the Rheolease series with the numbers 4834, 2544G, 3241 DV, and 487LG produced by performance fluid (Performance Fluids Ltd., Unit 1, Hodge Bank Business Park, Reedyford Road, Nelson BB9 8TF, United Kingdom) and the lubricants from the Struktol series with the numbers XP6253 and XP6245 produced by Schill+Seilacher (Schill+Seilacher GmbH, Schoenaicher Str. 205, 71032 Boeblingen, Germany) were tested when dissolved in deionized water. It was observed that the lowest concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and non-ionic surface- active agents (SAAs) were achieved in the aqueous solution containing Struktol XP6245. However, due to unfavorable process parameters (unpleasant odor), the Rheolease series lubricants were used in the technological process. Tests conducted on actual wastewater containing these lubricants showed that for Rheolease 487LG lubricant, the lowest COD and non-ionic SAAs concentrations were achieved, measuring 283 and 144 mg/L, respectively. Furthermore, for the same recycled lubricant, lower COD concentrations were obtained compared to the new lubricant, measuring 28,600 and 46,530 mg/L, respectively.