Lubricant dewaxing (MWI™ technology)

Refiners can use MWI™ wax isomerization technology to convert slack wax or other highly paraffinic streams into very high value Group III+ base stocks (high VI –140). Small amounts of valuable winter (low Cloud Point) diesel are also produced as a by-product without need for further processing.

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Key benefits

- High-quality product with high VI
- Ultra-low pour capability
- Haze-free” product
- Easily retrofitted into existing hydrotreating units
- Robust catalyst with nitrogen and sulfur tolerance
- Increased yield
- High selectivity

MWI™ services include:

Initial non-confidential consultations
Development of licensing proposal
Basic engineering package, including basic design specification and operating guide
Engineering support during FEED and EPC stages
Technology transfer, training, catalyst loading and startup support
Performance estimates for catalyst refills

Group III+ production

Valuable flexibility

Using MWI technology, refiners can produce high-quality Group III+ base stocks. MWI’s processing of slack wax, or a variety of synthetic waxes, can be used to augment a lube plant’s VI balance. This capability makes MWI a valuable option for almost any existing or planned lube plant.

MWI dewaxing process

Wax is liquified and preheated to reactor temperature and fed to a proprietary fixed bed reactor containing an advanced proprietary selective zeolite catalyst. Paraffinic molecules in the waxy feed are selectively isomerized by this catalyst to branched, lower pour point lube molecules with minimal conversion to high-quality diesel. For some feeds (high oil-in-wax slack waxes, for example) an initial hydrotreating step may be required.

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