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New methodology decreases testing time and improves accuracy
M. MAFI and F. YAZDANI, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering Research Center of Iran, Tehran, Iran; and F. FARHADI, Petroleum and Chemical Engineering Department, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
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An easier test method to determine oil content in petroleum waxes is needed. Contrary to existing standard methods that are time-consuming and must have a - 32[degree(s)]C environment, a method that is easily reproduced, requires less time to perform and needs a simple test environment would be highly beneficial to the industry. Waxes are an important part of the hydrocarbon processing industry as they provide key consumer products and are also used as processing intermediates: Flatting in paint systems Fuel in candles and fire logs Lubrication in plastic processing Protection against UV attack in rubber Coating and lamination in flexible packaging Moisture proofing in fiber and chipboard Pigment carrier for color concentrates and dispersions Imparting gloss and protection in polishes Viscosity regulation in hot melt adhesives.
Wax. This term describes a large category of materials. In ancient times, this term was applied to bee's wax alone. Today, it may be applied to any substance having wax-like behavior and properties. Waxes can be categorized as follows: Natural waxes that are derived from animal, vegetable or mineral origins. Bee's wax, lanolin and tallow are examples. Carnauba, candelilla and soy are among vegetable waxes. Mineral waxes include fossil or earth-ceresin, montan, paraffin, microcrystalline and petrolatum. Synthetic waxes are also as diverse as natural ones. These include ethylenic polymers, e.g., polyethylene and polyol ether-esters, chlorinated naphthalenes and hydrocarbon types, etc., derived from Fischer-Tropsch reactions.
Wax is the ultimate product derived from crude oil, which, coming from different reservoirs, is a compositionally varied product, consisting of a hydrocarbon mixture. One of many products derived from refining crude is lubricating oil. In the lube oil refining process, petroleum wax is separated from lube cuts.
There are three general petroleum wax categories obtained from lube oil refining: paraffin, microcrystalline and petrolatum. Paraffin waxes. These are derived from light lube cuts. It contains predominantly straight chain hydrocarbons with an average chain length of 20 - 30 carbon atoms. Microcrystalline waxes. Combining heavy lube distillates and residual oils produces this wax type. It...