Detergency of used motor oil from cotton and polyester fabrics

A study was conducted to identity factors contributing to the difficult rem oval of used motor oil from textile materials by detergency. Infrared spect roscopy and gel permeation chromatography of used motor oil showed that the oil was a saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon with molecular weight around 950 . X-ray analysis revealed that particulates present in the used motor oil c ontained S, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Fe, Ni, Cu, and Zn. Used motor oil was distr ibuted throughout the cotton fibers with similar concentration of oil in th e lumen, secondary wall, and surface crenulation. Higher relative concentra tions of used motor oil were observed in the secondary wall of the fiber th an has been reported for human sebum. No oil was found in the interior of p olyester fibers although high concentrations of oil were detected in the in terfiber spaces and on the fiber surfaces of polyester fibers. Dispersant a dditives of motor oil are thought to enhance penetration into the cotton st ructure and wicking over the polyester fibers, making the nonpolar used mot or oil very difficult to remove by detergency.