Removal of transition metals from motor oil using ion exchange resins.

A variety of polystyrene-divinylbenzene resins functionalized with such groups as SO3H, N(CH2COOH)2, and SH were tested in the slurry batch mode for the removal of transition metals from used motor oil. Naturally occurring materials such as coal and clay were also tested. The N(CH2COOH)2 resin (Chelex 100) and the SH resin (Duolite GT-73) were found effective removing on the average 70 and 78% of metals such as Fe, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, and Mn, respectively. About 700 mLs of hot oil when pumped through a 37 × 0.9 cm column packed with the Duolite resin could be demetalized to the extent of about 80% if the column was first washed with hexane.