Dewaxing Aids

Increased Profitability
by Optimizing Wax/Oil
Separation
Evonik RohMax Additives GmbH. London, 25
th
of February 2011
Andr Unglert Technical Sales Manager
1. Group I Base Oil and Waxes
2. Solvent Dewaxing and
Dewaxing Aids (DWAs)
3. Case Studies
3
28,5 million tonnes per year*
570.000 barrels per day*
2010
* Source: LubesnGreases, January 2011, Vol. 17, Issue 1
2020
-25%
21 million tonnes per year*
420.000 barrels per day*
Group I Capacities in 20XX
Bright Stocks and Heavy
Grades
High Quality Waxes
High Oil Yields
High Throughputs
Lower Oil-in-wax
20XX
4
Consequences for Group I Refineries
Close or
Shut-down
Optimize
Convert
Wait and See
Group II and
III or Fuels
Focus on
Bright Stocks
Focus on
Waxes
Tailored
Dewaxing Aids
Group I
Refineries
1. Group I Base Oil and Waxes
2. Solvent Dewaxing and
Dewaxing Aids (DWAs)
3. Case Studies
6
Separation of lube oil from wax
Precipitation of wax crystals in a chilled solvent
system
MEK/toluene, propane, MIBK
Filtration under specific operating conditions in a
rotary drum filter
- vacuum pressure,
- drum rotation interval,
- solvent wash conditions,
- filter wash interval
Solvent removal from oil and wax
Solvent Dewaxing General Info
7
Raffinate Raffinate
Filtrate ( Oil / Solvent ) Filtrate ( Oil / Solvent )
Slack wax Slack wax
Cold solvent Cold solvent
Process Operation
Process variables:
Filtration temperature
Solvent ratio
Drum rotation interval
Solvent wash conditions
Process outcomes:
Filtration rate
Oil yield
Oil-in-wax content
Costs
8
Raffinate Raffinate
Filtrate ( Oil / Solvent ) Filtrate ( Oil / Solvent )
Slack wax Slack wax
Cold solvent Cold solvent
Improved Process with DWAs
Potential benefits on
process outcomes:
Filtration rate
Oil yield
Oil-in-wax content
Costs
9
PAMA dewaxing aids are based on variable chemistry
R = alkyl side chain with
varying chain length
Higher alkyl side chains
interact with higher paraffins
Lower alkyl side chains
interact with lower waxes
Side chain distribution can
be designed to give the
best match
O O
R
The Chemistry behind our DWAs
Raffinate Paraffin Distribution
Tailored DWA Side Chain Distribution
10
Dewaxing Mechanism (1/2)
11
Raffinate Raffinate
Filtrate ( Oil / Solvent ) Filtrate ( Oil / Solvent )
Slack wax Slack wax
Cold solvent Cold solvent
Dewaxing Mechanism (2/2)
+70 +70 C C - -20 20 C C
Without a
dewaxing aid -
Crystalline
network
With a dewaxing aid
- More uniform sized
wax crystals
Cross-polarized microscopic pictures from the solution at -20C
12
A Successful Project Approach
Understanding
Needs
Laboratory
Testing
Plant
Trial
Apply optimized
laboratory
screening
techniques
Identify most
promising
dewaxing aid
Characterize
refinery
processes
Get samples of
the raffinates
Identify
improvement
levers
Agree upon
targets
Confirm the
performance
in the field
On-site
Support by
DWA experts
1. Group I Base Oil and Waxes
2. Solvent Dewaxing and
Dewaxing Aids (DWAs)
3. Case Studies
14
Case Study 1 Bright Stock (BS)
DEWAXING AID Pump
15
Case Study 1 Bright Stock (BS)
Oil Yield (%)
Without
DWA
870
1250
78,0
82,3
29% Oil
in Wax
Wax Yield (%)
Throughput or
Feed Rate (m/day)
With
DWA
Without
DWA
With
DWA
22,0
17,7
12% Oil
in Wax
> 40%
16
Case Study 2 Bright Stock (BS)
Oil Yield (%) 450
510
72
62
Throughput or
Feed Rate (m/day)
Without
DWA
With
DWA
Without
DWA
With
DWA
14%
17
Case Study 2 Heavy Grade
Oil Yield (%)
500
585
67
71
Throughput or
Feed Rate (m/day)
Without
DWA
With
DWA
Without
DWA
With
DWA
17%
18
Conclusion
Increased
Oil Yield
Improved
Wax Quality
Total
Added
Value
Increased
Throughput