Ingenious use of autocatalytic hydrodeoxygenation for the separation and recovery of oil and iron from rolling oil sludge

This paper introduces a transformative hydrodeoxygenation process for the simultaneous recovery of oil and iron from hazardous rolling oil sludge (ROS). Leveraging the inherent catalytic capabilities of iron/iron oxide nanoparticles in the sludge, our process enables the conversion of fatty acids and esters into hydrocarbons under conditions of 4.5 MPa, 330 degrees C, and 500 rpm. This reaction triggers nanoparticle aggregation and subsequent separation from the oil phase, allowing for effective resource recovery. In contrast to conventional techniques, this method achieves a high recovery rate of 98.3% while dramatically reducing chemical reagent consumption. The reclaimed petroleum and iron-ready for high-value applications-are worth 3910 RMB/ton. Moreover, the process facilitates the retrieval of nanoscale magnetic Fe and Fe0 particles, and the oil, with an impressive hy-drocarbon content of 87.8%, can be further refined. This energy-efficient approach offers a greener, more sus-tainable pathway for ROS valorization.