A Service of The University of Alabama

Project R.O.S.E., Box 870203, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0203 (205) 348-4878 or in state 1-800-452-5901 www.eng.ua.edu/~prose/

USED MOTOR OIL RE-REFINING AND RECYCLING

A GRADE 7-12 CLASSROOM CURRICULUM
Coordinated by Project R.O.S.E. and provided to your school by a grant from

The Used Oil Recycling Curriculum Kit was originally prepared by Valencia Community College (Orlando, Florida) for the State of Florida through a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation. Copyright: 1990 Florida Department of Environmental Regulation; Revise by Project R.O.S.E. with permission from the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation. Project R.O.S.E. and Marina R.O.S.E. are licensed trademarks of the University of Alabama. Their duplication and use is strictly prohibited without written permission.

CONTENTS

Page Introduction Project Staff Preface Teacher's Guide Educator's Preface From Resource to Waste Impact of Disposal Practices From Waste to Resource From Awareness To Action Glossary Review Questions Test Answers Transparency Masters Contents Middle School Lesson Plans Lesson Plan Summaries High School Lesson Plans Lesson Plans Summaries Student Guide Appendix Contents 1 2 3 4 8 12 14 15 21 23 24 35 49 89 93

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PREFACE
USED OIL RECYCLING AT VALENCIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ORLANDO, FLORIDA
Project R.O.S.E., with grateful appreciation, acknowledges the State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the following people for sharing their research. We recognize the tremendous effort that went into the coordination and development of the used oil curriculum. We particularly wish to thank Mr. Richard C. Neves, Environmental Specialist, Hazardous Waste Management Section of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for helping with coordination, advice, and time.

USED OIL RECYCLING A curriculum for grades 7-12 developed by the Used Oil Recycling Project Staff in 1989 at Valencia Community College, Orlando, Florida
Randal H. Stovall Project Director Valencia Community College Richard C. Neves Education Coordinator Valencia Community College Karen Griffin Outreach Coordinator Valencia Community College Steve Clark Research Associate Valencia Community College

Institute Participants
Wally Bain Environmental Resource Center Eustis Margaret Bogan Auburndale High School Auburndale Sandra Brubaker IFAS, Palm Beach County Palm Beach Gardens Diane Callahan Shady Hills Elementary School Spring Hill Laura Chenoweth DeLand High School DeLand Debra Christopher Osceola Middle School Seminole David Hall Martin County High School Stuart Donna Harper Fl. Fed. of Women's Clubs Tallahassee John C. Harris Fl. Dept. of Environmental Reg. Tallahassee Rosalyn Holzer Tallahassee Community College Tallahassee Linda Jumper Wampler St. Augustine High School St. Augustine Darcie Jo Lantz Mitchell Elementary School Tampa Richard W. Proulx Mid-Florida Tech Orlando Beverly Rawlings Winter Park High School Winter Park David Rhea Ocoee Middle School Ocoee J. Salter Valencia Community College Orlando Georgia Stamp Gulfview Middle School Bradenton William Stanko Outdoor Classroom Arcadia Patricia Zalo Manatee High School Bradenton J. Kayton Nedza Outdoor Classroom Arcadia Marie Oglesby Silver Sands Junior High Port Orange

Curriculum Reviewers
Dr. Francis Brown Pennzoil Co. Houston, Texas Diane M. Callahan Shady Hills Elementary School Spring Hill Linda Cronin-Jones U of F (College of Education) Robert McVety FL Petroleum Council Tallahassee Mike Mullins Hillsborough County Schools Tampa Clint Shepard U of F (IFAS) Gainesville Rosemary Souder Souder & Bertone Assc. Gainesville

Field Testers
Frank K. Abdulla Brandford Middle School Starke Cathy Boehme W.J. Woodham High School Pensacola Mark DeCrosta Land O' Lakes High School Land O' Lakes Winnie Wilson Gibbs High School St. Petersburg Carolynn F. Smith Forrest High School Jacksonville

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PREFACE

PREFACE University of Alabama Chemical Engineering Research Professor, Dr. Gary C. April, founded Project R.O.S.E. (Recycled Oil Saves Energy), a nonprofit energy conservation program, in 1977. The project serves as Alabama's statewide used oil collection and recycling program and focuses on the doit-yourself (DIY) oil changer's relationship to used oil pollution prevention. The Project R.O.S.E. network collects eight million gallons of used oil annually. More than 500 service stations, auto parts businesses, automobile dealerships, and quick-lube facilities throughout Alabama voluntarily serve as collection sites, offering DIY's a responsible alternative to improper oil disposal practices (i.e., dumping in backyards, sewers, or storm drains). The College of Engineering at the University of Alabama serves as Project R.O.S.E.'s headquarters and sponsor, while the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs' Science, Technology and Energy Division provides program funding. The original curriculum was developed at Valencia Community College (VCC) in Orlando, Florida. A contract was awarded to VCC by the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation to develop and implement a public education program. Part of this program included curriculum development and dissemination for middle and high school instruction. A curriculum writing institute was held August 610, 1989, on the West Campus of VCC in Orlando, Florida. Twenty-one professional educators from various grade levels and disciplines participated. The institute consisted of lectures, field trips and more than 30 hours of curriculum development. The curriculum developed at the institute was compiled, revised and submitted for review and field tested by attendees of the 1989-1990 Convention of the Florida Association of Science Teachers in Panama City Beach as well as various education and petroleum industry experts prior to final editing. In 1998, Project R.O.S.E. received permission from the Florida Department of Environmental Regulation to re-edit and publish the curriculum for the State of Alabama. The result of this endeavor is the package before you. This package includes the following materials: 1) specimens of oil at various stages of life (Contact Project R.O.S.E. for specimen availability) 2) a teacher resource packet 3) a variety of lesson plans aimed at grades 7-12 4) classroom materials (worksheets, graphics, transparency masters, poster etc.) The intent of this curriculum package is to provide middle and high school educators with the information and materials needed to affect proper used oil management behavior among Alabama citizens. For more information, call 1-800-452-5901 (in-state only) or 205-348-4878.

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EDUCATOR'S PREFACE

This teacher's guide is designed to provide an overview of the used oil recycling process -- the major steps from the formation of crude oil resources through used oil recovery. 1. From Resource to Waste: reviews the crude oil cycle from exploration, drilling, refining, and use as the oil is converted into used oil. 2. Disposal Practices: explores the environmental and economic issues of various disposal practices. 3. From Waste to Resource: includes a discussion of the used oil recycling process from generation through collection, transportation, reclamation and, finally, reuse. 4. From Awareness to Action: presents ideas for community and individual action in the recycling process. 5. Glossary: terms related to recycling, re-refining and the environment. 6. Review Questions: photocopy masters with answers

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FROM RESOURCE TO WASTE

The Oil Cycle

Oil is a primary energy resource in developed nations. Although advances in modern technology have historically permitted the extraction of crude oil from regions previously considered inaccessible, the world oil resources and reserves are a limited natural resource. (A limited natural resource is one of finite quantity or with an extended life cycle which requires specific physical conditions to permit its regeneration.) As a generalization, one might contrast the oxygen cycle to the oil cycle in order to better understand the time factor involved in the formation of the oil resource. The oxygen cycle can be very short. Oxygen molecules are recycled daily though the processes of photosynthesis, respiration and absorption. In contrast, just the formation of crude oil takes place in geologic time, over hundreds of millions of years.

Origins
Current theory holds that oil was formed from the bodies of millions of marine plants and animals, especially plankton. As they died, they slowly drifted to the bottom of the shallow seas and were covered with inorganic sediments. After the bodies of these organisms decayed, they were compressed by the weight of overlying materials and heated by the geological activity of the earth. This process caused the remains of these organisms to undergo chemical changes. Very slowly, crude oil and gas were formed. Once it was formed, the oil then moved through the layers of sedimentary rock until it became confined by nonporous layers forming oil traps. The crude oil we use today is obtained by drilling wells into these traps or pockets (Fig. 1). Oil is often found in conjunction with natural gas. This lighter weight material is generally removed from drilling sites first. Once the crude oil has been extracted from the ground, it can be separated into different components at an oil refinery.

Figure 1 Oil Pocket Formation

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FROM RESOURCE TO WASTE

Exploration
As geologists explore possible locations for oil, they look for certain changes in the layers and make-up of the rock. Geologists identify likely areas in which oil may be found by creating vibrations using vibration mechanisms or even sonar. The resulting sound waves are measured as they move through the rock by sensitive instruments called seismophones. Seismophones are instruments similar to those used to detect earthquakes. Graphs of the differential rates of sound movement have been keyed to oil pockets or traps. Based on these indicator patterns, the geologist recommends where test wells should be drilled. Some of the test wells are productive wells. In the old days, wells used to be called gushers because the process of piercing the oil trap released pressure built up in the trap through the ages. The oil then shot through the top of the well. Today, specialized valves prevent this explosive release. Hence, the loss of natural gas and crude oil is reduced as is pollution caused by oil spills around the drilling operations. This practice is both cost effective for the oil companies and environmentally sound. Once oil has been discovered, multiple wells are sunk in the vicinity of the test well to determine the size of the oil supply. Samples are taken and the relative quality of the oil is determined. If the size of the oil supply is large and development of the resource is considered to be cost effective, additional wells are drilled into the trap. Some of the oil and natural gas discovered is under enough pressure to flow upward unassisted. The remaining oil must be pumped from the pocket. Steam and other chemicals may be injected into the wells to help force the more tightly bound oil out of the enclosing pocket. Once crude oil is extracted from the ground, it is sent to an oil refinery where it is processed into different products.

Seismophones are instruments similar to those used to detect earthquakes.

Some of the test wells are "wet" or productive wells.

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FROM RESOURCE TO WASTE

Refining Virgin Crude

Crude oil is a mixture of many chemical compounds. At the refinery, it is separated into several components (Fig. 2). The first part of this process is called fractionating. During the fractionating process, the oil is heated in a tall tower. This causes molecules of different sizes and chemical characteristics to separate from each other. The lightest components rise to the top of the tower. These are called light ends and will be further processed to become solvents and fuels for automobiles and airplanes. The heaviest and most complex of the crude oil components go on to become greases and asphaltic materials. The parts of the crude oil that are a little lighter than greases are used as lubricants. Once separated, chemicals are added depending on the oil's intended use. The oil is then packaged and marketed. One of the products we are most familiar with is engine lubrication oil. It has several functions. Oil lubricates moving parts, thus reducing friction and, aiding in cooling the engine. Oil also cleans the cylinder and, at the same time, creates a seal between the piston rings and the cylinder wall so that when a spark ignites the fuel in the cylinder, the force is directed down to the arm on the crankshaft and does not escape past the cylinder walls. During normal engine operation, friction causes abrasion of metal surfaces. This produces superfine particles and other debris that find their way into the oil. To remove this material, oil is filtered as it works its way through the engine. Throughout this process, oil is exposed to extremely high temperatures (approximately 250 degrees F.). This high heat chemically breaks down the oil. As the oil breaks down, its effectiveness in reducing wear and tear on the engine is slowly lost, and dirt and contaminants further hinder its effectiveness. This is why auto manufacturers suggest the oil should be drained out and replaced with new oil on a regular basis. To prolong the life in today's high performance (and high temperature) engines, a number of materials are added to the refined oil such as detergents, dilutants and special additives to ensure proper lubrication and flow. These additives figure heavily in the pollution caused by improper disposal of used engine oil.
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Figure 2 Separation of Crude Oil

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FROM RESOURCE TO WASTE

Used Motor Oil

As motor oil is used in automobile engines, it picks up a

number of additional components from engine wear (Fig. 3). These include iron and steel particles, copper, lead, zinc, barium, cadmium, (two highly toxic metals), sulfur, water, dirt and ash. Because of the additives and contaminants, used motor oil disposal can be more environmentally damaging than crude oil pollution. These materials may cause both short and long term effects if they are allowed to enter the environment through our waterways or soil. Engines leak oil if not properly maintained and repaired. This represents a significant addition to the improper disposal of oil. You may have noticed the darkened center areas on road lanes. This darkening is due to the oil and other lubricants that have leaked out of the engines of cars and trucks. When it rains, much of this oil washes onto the soil surface and then into a water system. Once motor oil is drained from an engine, it is no longer clean, as it has picked up metals, dirt particulates and other chemicals during engine operation. This lubricating oil is now classified as used oil. How Alabamians choose to dispose of this used oil can be the difference between environmental pollution and resource recovery.

Figure 3 How Engine Use Affects Oil

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IMPACT OF DISPOSAL PRACTICES

Common Disposal Practices

People who change their own oil from privately owned vehicles are called Do-It-Yourselfers (DIYers). DIYers now have a responsibility to properly dispose of the used oil. However, they seldom have the facilities or the desire to store much of their used oil. Typical disposal methods have included pouring it on the ground, spreading it over dirt roads, using it as weed-killer, putting it in with household trash, or worst of all, pouring it directly into a waterway or down storm drains. To select the most appropriate method of used oil disposal, the DIYer should recognize that the volume of their used oil is only a small part of that generated by many DIYers nationwide. DIYers need to have an understanding of the components of used oil, environmental damage, economic impact, and the legal parameters of both proper and improper disposal practices.

Common Disposal Methods For Used Oil Among DIYers

40 % pour it on the ground 21 % dump it into their trash 21 % use it for machinery or

Scope of the Problem

The amount of used oil generated in the U.S. is much higher than one might assume. Consider the following: 2.7 billion gallons (b.g.) of oil are sold annually in the United States 50% of this 2.7 b.g. is consumed (i.e. burned or leaked from the engine) The other 50%, or about 1.1 b.g., becomes used oil 31% of this used oil, or about 500 million gallons, never reaches a recycling program DIYers drain about 180 million gallons of used oil from their cars, but less than 20 million gallons of this DIY-generated used oil is recycled.

other miscellaneous activities 14 % take it to recycling centers 4 % use it as fuel for burning

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IMPACT OF DISPOSAL PRACTICES

The amount of used oil produced and improperly disposed of each year in Alabama is equally alarming. According to Project R.O.S.E., up to four million gallons of used motor oil may be improperly disposed of by consumers who change their own oil. It is estimated that 70% of the used oil generated in Alabama during 1997 came from automotive sources (Fig. 4).

Environmental Issues
Oil, in any form, is potentially harmful to the environment. Post-studies of oil spills indicate that it takes up to twenty years for an aquatic environment to return to a healthy condition. Once it has been used by industry or the DIYer, it has even more potential for environmental damage. In an aquatic community (Fig. 5) oil residue tends to settle on the bottom, coating the substrate and whatever organisms live there. When poured on the ground, oil can rapidly migrate through the soil (Fig. 6). In both instances bacteria, plants, invertebrates and vertebrates experience physiological stress. Oil film on water can reduce the penetration of light into the water and, consequently, reduce the rate of photosynthesis. When photosynthesis is reduced, oxygen production is also reduced. The oil film may also inhibit the movement of oxygen from the air through the surface of the water. The reduction of dissolved oxygen in the water stresses animals living in the water. Oil can clog respiratory (breathing) mechanisms and even be incorporated into the tissues of these organisms. These substances in the tissues of these organisms make them unfit for human consumption and therein contribute to economic loss. If not incorporated in a human food source, the contaminants may be passed along the food chain, thereby contributing to environmental degradation. Some of the substances found in both virgin crude and refined oil can affect the nervous system of living things. This reduces their ability find food or reproduce.
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Mixed 15% Industrial 15% Automotive 70%

Figure 4 Used Oil Sources

Figure 5 How Oil Pollution Affects Aquatic Life

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IMPACT OF DISPOSAL PRACTICES

To put the environmental impact of misplaced oil into perspective, consider the following:
One pint of oil can produce an oil slick that will cover one acre (approximately the area of a football field). One part of oil per million parts of water (about equivalent to one drop of oil in a filled bathtub can produce tastes and odors noticeable to humans. 35 part per million (ppm) can cause a visible oil slick on water and can damage aquatic organisms. 50 ppm can foul water treatment plants and cause equipment damage. Oil in landfills can leach into ground water, carrying contaminants and affecting the odor and taste of the water.

Some of the compounds (on the light end) evaporate into the air and/or dissolve into the water (Fig. 2). Many of these lighter compounds are known as carcinogens and/or mutagens. Microscopically, oil compounds impinge on algaes, bacteria and plankton, the basis of the aquatic food chain. Larger organisms such as mammals and birds are the most dramatic victims of oil pollution because of their visibility and emotional appeal to humans. Feathers and fur become coated with oil and lose their ability to control body temperature. Death results from exposure or ingestion of the oil compounds via grooming. In soil, oil can rapidly percolate through the sand grains and create similar problems for soil microbes and macroscopic invertebrates. Eventually this oil may make its way into the water table or into a water body such as a lake. Used oil is a valuable resource. One definition for pollution is a resource out of place, and used oil certainly fits that description. The potential impact on our environment depends on how we manage this resource to make sure it is not out of place. To summarize, pollution can be defined as a resource in the wrong place or one that has not been completely used. Improper disposal of used oil is a source of significant pollution. The potential impact on our water and environment is serious. Of all petroleum related pollution in the U.S., including oil spills in coastal waterways, 62% is estimated to be runoff of used lubricating oil, much of which eventually works its way to the ocean environment.

Whales and some fish found in Alabama lakes, rivers, and streams depend on plankton for their food supply.

Figure 6 Permeability Map of Alabama

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IMPACT OF DISPOSAL PRACTICES

Economic Impact of Disposal Methods

The environmentally sound way to dispose of used motor oil is to recycle. It also makes sense from a purely economic standpoint. For example, if used oil is reprocessed into boiler fuel, a net savings of $0.65 per gallon could be realized. If the oil is re-refined into lubricating oil for vehicular use, a net savings of $1.50 per gallon could be realized (1990 examples). The energy saved by collecting and recycling used motor oil can also help reduce our dependence on foreign oil imports. Although crude oil prices fluctuate from year to year, valuable energy resources can be conserved by the use of fuel oil made from reclaimed motor oil. Press Release from the Decatur Recycling Office: "No Excuse for Dumping Oil" On May 7, 1998, more than 25 Hazardous Material volunteers from Amoco Chemical Company, 3M Company, Solutia, and the Neel Volunteer Fire Department, assisted the Decatur Fire and Rescue Haz-Mat Team in containing a 30-gallon oil spill in a drainage ditch on Targum Road. Solutia provided the absorbent materials and their Haz-Mat van and crew. Fortunately the spill was contained before making its way into a nearby creek which drains to the Tennessee River, but not without an estimated cost of $10,000 in equipment and supplies and more than 200 man-hours. Judging from the size of the oil filters found, the oil was removed from a large truck. "The worst part about this spill is that there was no reason for it to happen," said Eddie Hicks, Morgan County Emergency Management Agency Director. "There are at least three waste oil handlers that collect used oil from businesses and many automotive parts dealers that will accept used motor oil from do-it-yourselfers. Decatur's curbside recycling program accepts used motor oil and the Decatur-Morgan County ChemiCollection Day is one of three programs of its kind in the state and accepts used motor oil and other household chemicals from residents."

Recycling used oil could reduce petroleum imports by 25.5 million barrels of oil per year.

Figure 7 Crude/Used Motor Oil Yield Comparison

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FROM WASTE TO RESOURCE

Collection and Analysis

There are a number of steps in the process of recycling used motor oil (Fig 8). First, the used oil from the engine should be brought to a used oil collection site. Volunteer used oil collection sites in Alabama consist of most quicklube facilities, auto supply businesses, automobile dealerships and discount stores with auto service centers.

Reclaiming
At the used oil-reprocessing center, the uncontaminated used oil is slowly heated. This separates small amounts of water from the oil. The water produced during this process is released to a wastewater treatment plant. Next, the oil is filtered and resold for use by various industries. One of the most frequent applications of this reclaimed oil in the southeast is to fuel the high temperature furnaces used to melt asphalt for road construction It is also used in drying ovens for mined clay in the production of landfill liner, cat litter, and cement. Many other options exist for reclaimed oil, including waste to energy power plants.

Re-Refining
The oil may also be sent to a re-refiner. Used oil produced in several countries (Germany, Japan) and some states (New York and Alabama) are reprocessed using fractionating techniques very similar to those used in the refining of virgin crude. The big difference is that in fractionating used oil, fewer types of products are formed. The main products of re-refining are diesel fuel, high and low quality lubricants and heavy fuel oils used in industrial burners. During the re-refining process, hazardous materials are separated out of the oil resource and sent to federally approved hazardous waste treatment, storage or disposal facilities.

Figure 8 Steps in Oil Re-fining

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FROM AWARENESS TO ACTION

Technology is progressing to restore the additives and reconstitute the oil to its original lubrication specifications. EPA says, re-refined oils perform as well as virgin oils, and, for some parameters, perform better than virgin oils. However, much education is required to change public perception of a reused product.

In Alabama (Fig. 9) used oil is primarily burned as a fuel, and a little less than one third of all reclaimed oil is used in assorted industrial processes.

Figure 9 Use of Recycled Oil in Alabama

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Student Action in the Community

This activity is designed to help students identify and act on local environmental problems. Through facilitated discussion, direct your students to identify the following: Regional environmental problems Local organizations involved in the environmental movement Governmental agencies with jurisdiction over the issues Have the students establish communication lines with respective concerned city and government officials. Arrange for guest speakers to talk about the respective problems and governmental sequences of paperwork and actions.

Developing Community Awareness

Students can be directed to develop the used oil-recycling program as an activity. Through facilitated discussion, direct your students to: Identify local used oil collection centers. Design posters, news releases, signs and other methods of getting the word out to the community at large. Speak to the local county and city commissioners regarding the importance of establishing and maintaining a used oil collection program. Contact Project R.O.S.E. for more recent information and support materials. Contact a local oil distributor about sponsoring a billboard regarding the importance of disposing used oil properly. Have the students organize a contest (possibly through your art department) to come up with the best design for the billboard. Arrange for a local distributor to sponsor a recycling day through your school's industrial technology department. Students should organize and demonstrate proper used oil recycling techniques. Contact the school board maintenance garage and find out what is done with the used oil drained from school board vehicles (buses, work trucks, tractors, etc.) Contact your local water management district office for their role in monitoring and/or disseminating information concerning used oil in bodies of water. Stenciling storm drains by a community service organization to discourage dumping (check with state and local ordinances). Encourage local businesses to collect used oil. Distribute the Project R.O.S.E. volunteer sign to display at the collection site.

Establish Used Oil Recycling As A Priority Issue

Arrange to have a local recycling coordinator, solid waste coordinator, wastewater treatment manager or governmental representative to present a discussion of the benefits to be derived through informing the community of any new regulations or local proposals. This presentation should strongly suggest the feasibility of student action and leave students with a desire to participate in a used oilrecycling program. For more detailed explanation and examples of how to establish and operate a public awareness campaign, see the Appendix materials.

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GLOSSARY

ADECA Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs ADEM Alabama Department of Environmental Management Abotic Pertaining to absence of life; factor independent of living organisms. Anticline An arch of stratified rock in which the layers bend downward in opposite directions from the crest. Aquifer An underground layer of rock that is sufficiently porous and permeable to store significant quantities of water. Bioconcentrate To increase the concentration of a substance in one or more tissues of an organism. Biodegrade Refers to the act of being readily decomposed by living organisms. Biomagnification The increase in concentration of a substance as it moves up through the food chain. Biome A major ecological community such as a wetland or desert. Biotic Pertaining to life; ecological factors related to the interactions of living organisms. CERCLA Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensations and Liability Act (1980). Superfund for clean up.

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GLOSSARY

CFR Code of Federal Regulations Carcinogen Any substance that can cause cancer. Community An assemblage of plants and animals that interact to form an identifiable group with a biome. Consumer Ecologically, an animal that consumes plants (primary consumer) or other animals (secondary consumer). Decomposer An organism that breaks down organic wastes into simpler compounds. DIY Do-It-Yourself - Person who changes his/her own oil. DOE United States Department of Energy. Ecosystem The interactions of living and non-living things within a given boundary. Enhanced Recovery The injection of gases and water, or chemicals into an underground reservoir to build up pressure, causing the crude oil to migrate towards a well. EPA United States Environmental Protection Agency (federal) Federal Register Agency regulations are published here biannually. If there is no charge, these become official after six months.

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GLOSSARY

Fractionation The distillation of crude petroleum, using heat or chemical catalysts, to separate the crude into different compounds. This process is also known as cracking. The resulting products are known as cuts or fractions. Hazardous Waste Any waste product of human activity that has the potential to harm an organism. The legal categories include explosives, corrosives, and toxins. Hydrocarbon Any one of a family of compounds consisting of carbon and hydrogen in various combinations. Each has its own characteristics giving it different physical and chemical properties. Hydrocarbons are the principle constituents of crude oil, natural gas, and refined petroleum products. Mutagen Any substance that brings about changes in the genes or chromosomes of plants and animals causing different characteristics to appear in their offspring. Oil-Petroleum-Crude A naturally occurring mixture of hydrogen and carbon compounds, found in gaseous, liquid, or solid form. Crude refers to unrefined petroleum. OPEC Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. Includes countries of the Middle East, Africa and South America. PCB Polychlorinated biphenyl. Any of several organic compounds used in plastics manufacture, transformers, and capacitors that are toxic and persistent environmental pollutants and tend to accumulate in animal tissues.
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GLOSSARY

Plankton Any free-floating organism living in a body of water. Most plankton is very small and unable to swim against water currents under its own power. Includes both plants and animals. Population All of the individuals of one species living in a given area. Producer Ecologically, the photosynthetic of chemosynthetic organisms that produce the initial food in a food chain. Project R.O.S.E. R.O.S.E. is an acronym for "recycled oil saves energy." Project R.O.S.E. has served as Alabama's statewide volunteer used oil collection and recycling program since 1977. RCRA Resource Conservation and Recover Act (1976). This act initiated the cradle to grave tracking system for hazardous waste. Section 3012 states that the EPA must address the management of used oil, but not "Discourage the recovery or recycling of used oil." Reclaiming The use of cleaning methods on used oil primarily to remove insoluble contaminants, making the oil suitable for further use; the methods may include settling, heating, dehydration, filtration, or centrifuging. Recycled Oil As defined by RCRA, "Any used oil which is reused, following its original use, for any purpose (including the purpose for which the oil was originally used)," including oil that is rerefined, reclaimed, burned for energy or reprocessed.

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GLOSSARY

Reprocessing See Recycled Oil Re-refined Oil As defined by RCRA, "used oil from which the physical and chemical contaminants acquired through previous use have been removed through the refining process (Fig 8). Reserve A deposit of energy or minerals that is economically and geologically feasible to remove with current and foreseeable technology. Sanitary Landfill A solid waste disposal site where garbage is dumped and covered daily with a layer of dirt to reduce odors, insects, and rats. Secured Landfill One lined by clay and synthetic liners in an effort to prevent leakage. Seismic Technology A process of locating oil deposits using sound waves created by explosions either on the earth's surface or underground. The resulting sound waves are reflected back to seismographic instruments (similar to earthquake measurement devices), which create a picture of the underground geology and possible locations of oil traps. Species A group of organisms that are able to interbreed with other member of the group but are reproductively isolated; i.e., they are unable to breed with organisms outside of the group. Toxin Any substances which has a harmful effect on an organism.

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GLOSSARY

Trap A nonporous geological barrier, such as a rock, which holds the oil deposit at a fixed location. Used Oil Any oil, including synthetic, which has been refined from crude oil and, as a result of use, storage or handling, has become unsuitable for its original purpose due to the presence of impurities or loss of original properties, but which may be suitable for further use and is economically recyclable. Excluded from this definition are fuels, waxes, petrolatum, asphalts, and other petroleum products that are not generally considered to be oils.

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REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. What is the main energy resource used in the U.S. and other developed countries? 2. It is thought that oil was formed from what? 3. Over geologic time, crude oil became locked between layers of rock. This location is called a _______________. 4. How do geologist locate oil traps? 5. Oil which escapes from a well under its own pressure is called a _______________. 6. Once removed from the ground, crude oil is sent to a _______________. 7. What happens at a refinery? 8. Light end products of refining are further processed into what? 9. Heavy end products of refining are further processed into what? 10. Why are chemicals added to engine oil? 11. What are some of the functions of engine oil? 12. How does the oil in your car get dirty?

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REVIEW QUESTIONS

13. Why do you need to change the oil in your car? 14. What is a DIYer? 15. List some of the ways DIYers dispose of their used oil. 16. About how long does it take a shoreline environment to recover from an oil spill? 17. How can an oil slick lower oxygen levels in the water? 18. How does oil pollution harm large mammals and birds? 19. How are the light end compounds dangerous? 20. What is the effect of oil in the food chain? 21. What are some of the effects of oil on the ground? 22. What is recycling? 23. Why must used oil not be mixed with any other substance? 24. What is reclaimed oil used for? 25. What is re-refined oil used for? 26. Why should used oil be recycled?

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Recycled Oil Saves Energy

REVIEW ANSWERS

1. Oil. 2. The bodies of marine plants and animals, especially plankton. 3. It is called a trap. 4. By using sound waves. 5. It is called a gusher. 6. It is sent to a refinery. 7. The crude oil is processed into various products such as gasoline and engine oil. 8. Solvents and fuels. 9. Greases and asphalt compounds. 10. To help in engine performance. 11. Oil lubricates moving parts, cleans the engine, and forms a seal in the engine. 12. Picks up dirt, debris and metal particles from engine wear, is chemically changed under the high temperature and pressure inside the engine. 13. Over time, as the oil becomes dirty, it can no longer do what it was designed to do -lubrication, cleaning, etc. 14. A do-it-yourselfer, a person who changes the oil in their car rather than having it done at a garage or service station. 15. Pouring it onto the ground, pouring it down the drain or into storm sewers, dumping it in their trash, burning it, storing it, used as weed killer. 16. Up to 20 years. 17. It can block the light and slow or stop photosynthesis, which lowers the amount of oxygen in the water. It also stops diffusion of oxygen from the atmosphere into the water. 18. Feathers and fur become matted and lose their ability to insulate the animals against cold; oil compounds may be eaten as the animals clean their bodies. 19. Many are carcinogens (cause cancer) or mutagens (causes mutations). 20. It may be absorbed into the tissues of organisms and then be eaten by humans. 21. It can have an effect on soil bacteria and invertebrates, including worms and insects, and may also run off into nearby bodies of water. 22. Reusing a waste product. 23. If the oil is contaminated with a hazardous waste, then it must be specially treated. 24. Industrial fuel. 25. It can be used as lubricating oil and be put back into engines. 26. To protect the environment and extend the life of the oil we import.

Project R.O.S.E.

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Recycled Oil Saves Energy