After further processing to remove unwanted compounds, the lube oil that has been collected in the two fractionating towers is passed through several ultrafine filters, which remove remaining impurities. Aromatics, one such contaminant, contain six-carbon rings that would affect the lube oil’s viscosity if they weren’t removed in a process called solvent extraction. Solvent extraction is possible because aromatics are more soluble in the solvent than the lube oil fraction is. When the lube oil is treated with the solvent, the aromatics dissolve; later, after the solvent has been removed, the aromatics can be recovered from it.
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How are lubricants produced
A lubricant consists of 70-100% base lubricants and up to 30% chemical compounds known as
Quality Control
Most applications of lube oils require that they be nonresinous, pale-colored, odorless, a
Additives, inspection, and packaging
Finally, the oil is mixed with additives to give it the desired physical properties (such