Sanat Kumar

Studies on Carbon Number Distribution of High Melting Microcrystalline Waxes

Abstract Carbon number distribution of microcrystalline wax derived from tank sludges of Bombay High crude oil (India) and its various high melting fractions have been studied by High Temperature Gas Chromatography (HTGC). Binodal, Gaussian distribution and a wide range of alkanes, ranging from C21–C75, along with their many isomers with predominant alkanes being C40 and C67, have been observed in the microcrystalline wax. Higher melting wax fractions have Gaussian distribution.

Determination of average carbon number of petroleum waxes by X-ray diffraction

Eight petroleum waxes, both paraffin as well as microcrystalline, have been analysed by X-ray diffraction. The average carbon number has been estimated by the long-range ordering observed in the diffractograms of these waxes. The average carbon number has also been determined following the standard gas chromatographic (GC) method. The results obtained by X-ray diffractometry compare well with those obtained by the GC method. The former method also permits determination of the average carbon number of high melting point waxes, which is otherwise difficult using GC.

Composition and Properties of Some Petroleum Waxes

Abstract Structural composition of paraffin waxes and soft wax fraction derived from microcrystalline wax were determined. Waxes were fractionated by multistage solvent crystallization at different temperatures. The n-alkane components of the waxes were separated by urea adduction. The average structural parameters of parent waxes, their fractions, and urea adductables were estimated by 1h and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The thermal parameters viz. phase transition temperature and the associated energy during phase transitions were determined by using DSC and correlated with the penetration temperature behavior of waxes. The carbon number distribution determined by GC for these waxes and their n-alkane components were also correlated with physical properties and thermal parameters.

Crystal Structure of n-Paraffin Concentrates of Crude Oils

Abstract The n-alkanes are the major constituents of paraffin waxes, which adversely affect the cold flow properties of crude oils and their fractions (gel formation). The n-alkanes crystallize out from the solution as the temperature is lowered. The knowledge of the structure of crystals is essential to understand the gel formation behavior of crude oil. n-Paraffin concentrates were extracted from six Indian crude oils. One particular n-paraffin concentrate was fractionated into smaller fractions by distillation. The crystal structure of these n-paraffin concentrates were determined by X-ray diffraction and correlated with the distribution of the carbon number present in them. It was observed that the crystal structures of these n-paraffin concentrates is greatly influenced by the carbon number distribution and the presence of amorphous content.

Physical Properties of Petroleum Waxes. I. Effect of Oil Content

Abstract The effect of oil content on the physical properties of five microcrystalline waxes having widely different oil content have been investigated. It has been observed that the physical properties are affected to a great extent by the variation in oil content. Oil content has a profound effect on viscosity, hardness, and crystallinity of waxes. The effect is not so profound in the case of melting point.

Study of Phase Transition in Hard Microcrystalline Waxes and Wax Blends by Differential Scanning Calorimetry

Abstract Phase transition temperature and associated energies in hard high melting microcrystalline waxes and its various blend with paraffin wax (melting range from 60 to 97°C) have been determined by DSC in both heating and cooling mode. The dependence of these on the composition and properties of waxes have been analyzed. The solid liquid transition temperature obtained by DSC has been compared with ASTM drop melting point of these wax samples. The present study has demonstrated that DSC can be of great use in identifying whether the wax sample is blend of different waxes or not.

Crystal structure of fractionally crystallized waxes isolated from crude oil

A petroleum wax has been extracted from crude oil and fractionated into two parts, depending on its solubility in methyl isobutyl ketone–toluene solvent at temperatures of 298 and 313 K. The wax and its two derivatives have been analyzed for composition and crystalline nature using various techniques including gas chromatography, NMR and X-ray diffraction. It has been observed that the crystalline structure of the fractionally precipitated waxes is significantly different from the structure of the parent wax present in the crude oil.

The Deep Deoiling of Microcrystalline Waxes by Solvent Percolation

Microcrystalline waxes have great affinity for oil, which remains occluded in it and makes deep deoiling of these waxes very difficult. The low oil content microcrystalline waxes are required in various applications. The usual deoiling processes involve treatment with certain organic solvents such as methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), tolune, and dichloromethane at low temperatures and use of expensive equipment and methods, which make them unsuitable for small entrepreneurs. However these waxes can be deoiled to a very low oil (<1%) content by solvent percolation which does not require the use of equipment such as surface scrapped chillers and refrigerating conditions, making the process suitable to be set up by small investment.

Partial Liquid Phase Oxidation of Microcrystalline Waxes to Produce Emulsifiable Waxes

Abstract Partially oxidized hard microcrystalline waxes commonly known as emulsifiable waxes have numerous industrial applications. These are also used as substitutes or extenders for vegetable waxes. Oxidation of microcrystalline waxes obtained from Bombay high crude oil tank sludges have been carried out to study the feasibility of producing emulsifiable waxes under different conditions of catalyst, temperature, reaction time, etc. The study has shown that the microcrystalline waxes derived from Bombay high crude oil tank sludge can be suitably modified to produce emulsifiable waxes.