ABSTRACT
The treatment of the light wax distillate using conventional lube manufacturing
processes as solvent extraction , solvent dewaxing, and hydrofinishing has been
investigated. Laboratory batch extraction of what from the light wax distillate was
carried out using N methylpyrrolidone (NMP) containing 3wt % water and the solvent/
oil ratio used was 3:1 at an extraction temperature of 50oC.
The raffinate is then dewaxed using the solvent methyl ethylketone (MEK) together
with toluene (60/40) at a solvent / oil ratio of 3/1 and at a dewaxing temperature of -
25oC. The hydrofinishing was carried out using a commercial Nickel-Tungsten
catalyst in a high pressure autoclave . The hydrofining product shows important
considering properties as the viscosity variation (V1=117), low temperature
properties , (pour point=-33Cº) , volatility (flash point = 186oC) and the oxidation
stability (t=32 min.) this higher quality product be used in blending thus preparing a
appropriate compounded oil.