Normal Paraffin

Normal Paraffin (NP) is a clear liquid that are made up of saturated hydrocarbons with a straight-chain structure. They are either extracted from kerosene or through the Fischer-Tropsch process at gas-to-liquid production sites. Paraffin (or called kerosene) is a mixture of hydrocarbons; it usually consists of about 10 different hydrocarbons, each containing from 10 to 16 carbon atoms per molecule; the constituents include n-dodecane, alkyl benzene, and naphthalene and its derivatives. Kerosene is obtained from crude oil by distillation and is used as a fuel for heating and aircraft. N-paraffin C10-C13 is a colorless liquid with a mild odor. It is insoluble in water. It is slow-evaporating, environmentally adapted (fully bio-degradable) with negligible sooting (like lamp oil).

Normal Paraffin is the major raw material for the manufacture of the LAB. Normal Paraffin is extracted from kerosene which contains an average of 20/25% paraffin and therefore is generally produced close to a refinery as the kerosene, free of the paraffin removed has to be returned to the refinery. Over 80% of Normal Paraffin is used for the production of the LAB the remaining N-Paraffin may be further processed to obtain special solvents used for various industrial applications including synthetic resins, paints and varnishes, degreasing agents and printing inks. Normal paraffin operates as a dissolver in industrial for producing polymers and resins, colors, artistic coverings and grease polisher.

Modern mineral base oils are the result of a long and complex distillation and refining processes. The feedstock used is crude oil. This substance is not of uniform quality but consists of several thousands of hydrocarbon compounds in which the elements carbon and hydrogen are present in all molecules and, in part, are bound to other elements.

The hydrocarbons can be divided into three main groups: paraffinic, naphthenic and aromatic. Paraffinic hydrocarbons can be further divided into two subgroups: normal paraffinic and iso- paraffinic.

Paraffinic hydrocarbons are the best lubricants. The distillation process in the refinery separates the hydrocarbons contained in the crude into cuts based on the molecule size.

Furthermore, as many unwanted substances as possible are removed in the process, such as sulphur, aromatic hydrocarbons, paraffin wax, etc. In other words the mineral oil production process is physical cleaning and the end product is so-called paraffinic base oil.

Most of the hydrocarbons in the base oil are paraffinic, but it also contains naphthenic and aromatic molecules. When the finished lubricant, such as motor oil, is made of these, several additive compounds are used to improve the base oil properties.

The final outcome can also be so-called naphthenic base oil, where most of the hydrocarbons are naphthenic. Their cold properties are excellent.