Methods for separating wax products from hydrocarbon feedstreams

An apparatus for separating a wax product from a hydrocarbon feedstream, the apparatus comprising a membrane separation unit and a wax-oil separation unit, wherein:

• the membrane separation unit comprises:
• at least one mixed-matrix membrane comprising inorganic particles as a dispersed phase and a polymer matrix as a continuous phase,
• a retentate zone wherein the hydrocarbon feedstream contacts a first side of the at least one mixed-matrix membrane, and
• a permeate zone from which a permeate product stream is obtained from a second side of the at least one mixed-matrix membrane,
• wherein the wax-oil separation unit is selected from the group consisting of:
• a wax settler, a centrifuge, a wax filter, a crystallizer, a cyclone, a fluid extraction device, a solvent dewaxing device and a combination thereof.

A method for separating a wax product from a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising:

• conducting a hydrocarbon feedstream to a membrane separation zone, wherein the hydrocarbon feedstream contacts a first side of at least one mixed-matrix membrane comprising inorganic particles as dispersed phase and a polymer matrix as continuous phase;
• retrieving a retentate product stream from the first side of the membrane element;
• retrieving a permeate product stream from a second side of the membrane element, wherein the permeate product stream has:
• a wax phase and an oil phase, and
• a pour point of the wax phase of the permeate product stream that is higher than a pour point of the oil phase of the permeate product stream;
• and
• separating a wax product from the wax phase of the permeate product stream.

A method for separating a wax product from a hydrocarbon feedstream comprising:

• conducting a hydrocarbon feedstream to a membrane separation zone, wherein the hydrocarbon feedstream contacts a first side of at least one membrane;
• retrieving a retentate product stream from the first side of the at least one membrane;
• retrieving a permeate product stream from a second side of the at least one membrane, wherein the permeate product stream has:
• a wax phase and an oil phase,
• a pour point of the wax phase of the permeate product stream that is higher than a pour point of the oil phase of the permeate product stream, and
• a micro carbon residue content that is at least 80 wt % lower than a micro carbon residue content of the hydrocarbon feedstream;
• and
• separating a wax product from the wax phase of the permeate product stream.