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.
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.