What was the challenge or problem to be solved?
The INFINITIA team was approached by a client who wanted to evaluate the quality of both new and recycled industrial oils to determine their viability for reuse in certain industrial processes. The project arose in response to the client’s need to optimise resources, reduce costs associated with the use of industrial oil and promote more sustainable practices within their operation.
The reuse of recycled oils not only has economic and environmental advantages, but also faces barriers to trust due to the perception of a possible decrease in quality or risks associated with the equipment.
The main challenge was to demonstrate that recycled industrial oils could match or even exceed the performance of certain new oils, using exhaustive technical analyses and comparisons based on international standards.
How was it addressed or what was the solution?
The project began with the collection of samples of new and recycled industrial oils, ensuring their integrity by means of a specialised kit that prevented environmental contamination. These samples were analysed under key quality parameters, starting with visual appearance and colour, which offered an initial indication of the condition of the oils.
The technical evaluation included viscosity measurements and the analysis of properties such as the total acidity index and moisture content. These tests helped to identify whether the recycled oils were suitable for reuse or required additional treatments.
More advanced chemical characterisation analyses made it possible to determine possible additives, contaminating substances, and even the presence of certain suspended solid particles. All these parameters had to be analysed and controlled as they could have a major impact on equipment performance.
Finally, an exhaustive comparison of all the properties was carried out based on international standards, organised in a matrix that made it possible to clearly evaluate the differences between new and recycled industrial oils.
The project demonstrated that recycled oils could meet the quality standards necessary for reuse without compromising equipment protection or operational efficiency. This result not only allowed the client to reduce significant costs associated with the use of new oils, but also contributed to reducing the environmental impact of its operation, moving towards a more sustainable model aligned with the principles of the circular economy.
INFINITIA reaffirmed its ability to solve complex challenges through high-level technical analysis, offering practical, sustainable and science-based solutions that help companies optimise their resources and consolidate their commitment to responsible innovation.
