Method for cleaning lubricating oil contaminated with fine solid particles

Abstract

The present invention consists of a method for cleaning lubricating oil contaminated with fine inorganic solid particles, such as particles with an equivalent average diameter of less than 2 µm, including silica (SiO2), desert mineral dust, and metallic wear particles, comprising the following steps: a) providing a predefined volume of said contaminated oil in a mixer; b) adding to the mixing container with said contaminated oil a dose of magnetic adsorbent composed of magnetite nanoparticles functionalized with variable-chain amino acid derivatives; c) mechanically stirring the mixture formed by the volume of contaminated oil and said dose of magnetic adsorbent, ensuring its homogeneous dispersion in the predefined volume of contaminated oil in said mixing tank;d) producing an effluent flow of said agitated mixture from said mixing tank passing through a magnetic separator to a collection tank, and applying an external magnetic field in said magnetic separator, generating the displacement and accumulation of the functionalized nanoparticles already loaded with contaminants, thus producing their physical separation from the flow of the volume of lubricant oil now being treated; e) receiving said volume of treated oil in said collection tank; and f) removing the particles separated in said magnetic separator.