Cleaned Air Filter: What to Do with the Black Sludge?

Hello,

To supplement the "Sport" air filter technical article.
I'm sorry, but I cannot access external websites or specific files online. Therefore, I am unable to translate the text from the provided URL.
I would like to know how textile filter suppliers handle the disposal of the dirty cleaning fluid and the extracted filter oil.

"Which practitioners can tell me more about this, or how do you dispose of the dirty liquid?"

At our location, this is part of the collection service. Once a month, a "mobile disposal unit" is available in the city. Otherwise, you can bring items to the municipal depot or the regional waste disposal center for free.
However, I don't think many people do that, unfortunately.

Of course, as special waste, to the recycling center .

Our recycling center also accepts these items for free. Just like oil-stained rags and empty oil containers, which shouldn't go in regular household waste.

...but only up to a certain amount (at least in our case).

Oil-soaked rags should definitely be disposed of as special waste at a recycling center.
Unfortunately, someone in this area was unaware of this and put it in the gray bin, which was not full and was standing in the bright sun. The employee of the waste disposal company, who was still manually emptying the bins into the truck at the time, opened the lid, and a smoldering fire caused by the oil in the cloth ignited in a violent explosion, horribly disfiguring the person. The person responsible was convicted for this incident.

Okay, at least for me, I don't understand half-hearted or dangerous disposal of hazardous materials. For me, once a year is enough to take everything to the mobile hazardous waste collection unit. Until then, anything potentially dangerous or toxic is stored in a container in the garage.

So, it seems there are probably no satisfactory alternatives to the legal and therefore complex disposal process (in most cases).

Filter suppliers often advertise (in addition to the supposed increased performance ) the economic aspects of reusability, but it seems that the "just washing" aspect involves more effort than a typical interested party or buyer initially considers.

I would also like to know if anyone knows of a filter supplier that, as part of their offering or at the very least on the bottles for cleaning fluid or filter oil, mentions the disposal issue (similar to how motor oil canisters state "this oil should be disposed of after use" . . .).

It's interesting because, to my knowledge, businesses that sell oil are obligated to take back used oil. So why not also cleaning fluids?

But the average Tuningofer is certainly rarely able to differentiate based on such aspects.

It's interesting because, to my knowledge, businesses that sell oil are obligated to take back used oil. So why not also have a similar system for cleaning fluids.

But the common Tuningofer is certainly rarely able to differentiate based on such aspects.

It's correct, at least in Austria, this applies to all substances that require proper disposal. So, filling the 'black sludge' into an empty oil container and returning it to the dealer should not be a problem.

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@matthiasTDI96
Collection points for used oil are only allowed to accept pure used oil. This means that it should not contain any contaminants such as fuel or additives from other oils, like transmission fluid mixed with engine oil. While few people actually check for this, these are the standard requirements.
And of course, they apply the same principle to the cleaning fluids. They sell a pure fluid without any additives. However, the fluid you want to return is contaminated with various particles. And currently, they are not obligated to take it back for free, because they don't know what substances might be present in it.
Most cleaning fluids are quite volatile. When I think of brake cleaner, for example, after a few hours there's nothing left of the cleaner, and only the dissolved grime remains.
Currently, I'm happy that I can dispose of everything at our local landfill for free (except for motor oil), and I make sure to dispose of everything properly. I consider the effort required to bring the items there to be relatively small.

@wutz

Okay, that's clear, only "pure" used oil should be returned. I wouldn't mix it with anything either. My thoughts were a bit scattered there. I also didn't think about using Julian's brake cleaner, and what's left over from that is indeed difficult to dispose of.

Julian wrote:

Hm....first question: What kind of cleaning fluid do you use?

Not at all, I've been using paper filters so far.

Quote:

I usually used brake cleaner, and it evaporated very quickly.

What remained on the newspaper was some dust, pollen, insects, and other debris.
Hm, can you wash all the dirt and dust out of an oiled

Quote:

textile filter with brake cleaner without the oil (partially) being washed out as well? If the oil were to get absorbed into the paper, it would cause the paper to be considered "special waste."

Organic materials -> Biomass}

Or do you use dry textile filters?

Julian wrote:

Have you ever held brake cleaner in your hand? Have you ever read the instruction manual for, for example, K&N products? Have you ever installed new brake rotors?

Yes - no - yes (but without brake cleaner).

Quote:

The brake cleaner dissolves oil, please don't ask me how. When the cleaner has evaporated, only dust remains in my case.

IMO, a chemical phenomenon:
A non-volatile oil A is diluted with a volatile liquid B, and in the process, a reaction (presumably) occurs that makes A volatile as well.

How much filter oil (in the filter) are you using, and how much brake cleaner are you using for evaporation?

It also depends on the brake cleaner you are using. There are different types, each with slightly different cleaning power. Therefore, you can only rely on experience. However, that's also very difficult, because who can accurately say how many milliliters they just sprayed out of the can? I think the best way is to experiment.

wutz wrote:

Who can really say exactly how many ml they just sprayed out of the can?

I think the best way is to experiment.
Okay, the question wasn't about specific milliliter amounts, but rather about approximate quantities.

Made-up example:
-> 200 ml of filter oil is sufficient for 4 applications.
-> The 500 ml bottle of brake cleaner spray is empty after 3 uses.

Result: Approximately 170 ml of brake cleaner causes approximately 50 ml of filter oil to evaporate.

Brake cleaner typically consists of naphtha and a small amount of butane as a propellant, and therefore has a similar effect to gasoline (though only roughly comparable). Brake cleaner dissolves oils that are present as residues on fabrics, but it cannot remove them completely. As a result, the oil remains present, just not in the area where the brake cleaner was applied. Naphtha is also extremely volatile, but not completely so.

I don't think there's much more to add to the typical user reviews. No one will take a piece of paper that has been treated with brake cleaner and then dispose of it.