Silicone fluids, esters and more
Fuel blending is an appropriate recycling alternative for materials that are not easily recoverable. In the case of silicone oil – often used as a heat transfer fluid – this non-hazardous waste can be compatibly blended with many organic solvents or other fuels.
Silicones do have advantages when properly used in fuel-blending operations. Silicone fluids have a calorific value of approximately 20MJ/kg, providing a favourable heat balance for fuel-use applications. Furthermore, when silicone fluids are burned in silica-demanding processes such as cement kilns, the resulting silica becomes a valuable component of the product.
Importantly Benzoil recommends that silicone-containing materials should not be burned in internal combustion engines or other operations in which ash generation may interfere with the operation of the equipment.