ABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to determine the concentrations of heavy metals such as Aluminum (Al), Lead (Pb), Tin (Sn), Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu) and Nickel (Ni) in unbranded lubricating oils marketed around and in Benin City.
The samples of lubricating oils were completed and effectively digested and it showed huge concentrations of these heavy metals when undergone for atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results further indicate after analysis these metals to be Al (3.12ppm, 5.25ppm, 6.30ppm, 2.80ppm, 29.30ppm), Pb (26.70ppm, 51.70ppm, 15.20ppm, 17.80ppm, 41.20ppm), Sn (ND, ND, ND, 25.30ppm, ND), Fe (191.50ppm, 84.20ppm, 61.30ppm, 54.70ppm, 235.00ppm), Cu (35.50ppm, 17.80ppm, 19.50ppm, 22.10ppm, 17.00ppm) and Ni (12.50ppm, 2.50ppm, ND, 7.10ppm, 27.90ppm) for samples A, B, C, D and E respectively.
It was concluded from findings that unbranded lubricating oils marketed in Benin contains different heavy metals. The existence of these metals shows the various contamination levels contained in each sample. The more reliability in unbranded lubricating oils eventually with time damages the working efficacy of our machines.
