CLG’s ISODEWAXING technology revolutionized catalytic dewaxing when it was commercialized in 1993. Rather than removing the wax, as does solvent dewaxing, ISODEWAXING® catalytically isomerizes the molecular structure of the wax into isoparaffins. These isoparaffins have high VI, low pour points and excellent resistance to oxidation. Further, because ISODEWAXING preserves the base oil's paraffinicity, it can produce higher product VI and/or higher yields than other dewaxing processes.
When using ISODEWAXING, a broader range of feeds can be processed into a broader range of products. ISODEWAXING can process feeds with close to 100% wax, such as slack wax and hard wax. It is a once-through process where 140 VI base oils can be made from slack wax without recycling unconverted wax. Refiners using ISODEWAXING can produce base oils with VI ranging from 95 to 140 and higher. Pour points may range from low (-9 to -15°C) to ultra-low (< -40°C).
| | Hydrocracker feed rate | Hydrocracker waxy base oil yield | Dewaxer feed rate | Dewaxer yield % | Base oil yields BPD |
| Catalytic dewaxing | BPD 10,000 | 52 | BPD 5200 | 81 | 4200 |
| Solvent dewaxing | BPD 10,000 | 63 | BPD 6300 | 84 | 5300 |
| ISODEWAXING | BPD 10,000 | 75 | BPD 7500 | 94 | 7050 |
| Using all-new ISODEWAXING Catalyst to make conventional base oils allows the refiner to lower processing severity in the hydrocracker and substantially increase yields. |