Background

Waste oil is the generic term for oil that has been contaminated. Used oil is the U.S. EPA designation for any petroleum or synthetic oil that has been used and become contaminated by physical or chemical properties. In both cases the oil is considered hazardous waste if the total chlorine level exceeds regulatory limits. Excessive chlorine in oil products can lead to corrosion during use or cause hazardous wastes and gasses when burned. Therefore it is important to measure the chlorine content in used and waste oils during collection, recycling and disposal to meet environmental norms when recycled into new products, used as alternative fuel, or for proper and safe disposal. Rigaku offers the NEX QC Series of EDXRF analyzers for the fast and simple measurement of chlorine and sulfur in oil for compliance with EPA and international environmental norms.