Treatment of waste cutting oil emulsions by leaching solutions of white mud

A leaching solution of white mud was prepared from this waste material of soda production, and used for treatment of waste cutting oil emulsion. In alkaline conditions, the leaching solution of white mud generates hydroxide precipitates, which have relatively high specific surface area and excess surface energy, and readily adsorb the pollutants in waste cutting oil emulsion. The chemical composition of the white mud was determined and the hydroxide precipitates were characterized. The maximum removal efficiency (of turbidity, oil contents and TOC) was obtained at an adsorbent dosage of 4.0 g/L, pH 12.0 and 25 degrees C. Leaching solutions of white mud could be used as an effective and low-cost material for treatment of waste cutting oil emulsion by the precipitation method.