Eco-Friendly Technology for Recycling of Cutting Fluids and Metal Chips: A Review

Recently, as environment regulations have been strengthened around the world, new policies that take the environment into consideration have been introduced in various industries. As a result, to protect against environmental pollution and save resources, eco-friendly technologies have been studied. Especially in the machining and machinery industries, interest in how to handle the recycling of cutting fluids and metal chips has increased because these materials are highly toxic. Cutting fluids increase tool life and productivity by cooling and lubricating during processing. However, cutting fluids and metal chips result in environmental pollution and are harmful to the human body. In order to solve the problems associated with these materials, eco-friendly technologies for the recycling of cutting fluids and metal chips have been proposed by researchers and industrial workers. In this paper, a review of physical, chemical and biological recycling methods for cutting fluids is performed, and research and development in relation to the recycling of metal chips are reviewed. Moreover, companies involved in the recycling metal chips are summarized based on the country of origin. The final part of this paper provides a technical summary of cutting fluids and metal chips according to associated the methods used to recycle these materials.