Production of lubricating base oil from slop wax by different subsequent refining techniques

Abstract

Different subsequent refining techniques including solvent dewaxing and solvent extraction have been used to produce lubricating base oil from slop wax waste by-product. The solvent dewaxing technique was performed using two different solvent mixtures of methyl ethyl ketone and toluene with and without benzene at different dilution solvent ratios and at different dewaxing temperatures. The solvent extraction technique was carried out using N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone solvent at 90°C and at constant dilution solvent ratio of 3:1 by weight. The resulting data revealed that the highest yield of lubricating base oil having the lowest pour point (−6°C) and the highest iso- and cyclo-paraffins to n-paraffins ratio (5.11) is obtained by solvent dewaxing process only. While the lowest yield of lubricating base oil having the highest pour point (−1°C) and the lowest iso- and cyclo-paraffins to n-paraffins ratio (4.08) is obtained using solvent dewaxing followed by solvent extraction process. These lubricating base oil products, especially the one that having the lowest pour point (−6°C) matches the principal characteristics of AX 973853 type of premium low viscosity textile machinery oils obtained by Mobile Velocite Oil Company.