Upgrading properties of asphalts with wax
AssigneeExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
InventorsPavel Kriz, Katherine Lynn Sokol
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods are provided for upgrading the quality of an asphalt containing wax. This can include base asphalts that naturally contain elevated levels of wax, such as base asphalts with a wax content of at least 3.0 wt %. Additionally or alternately, this can include a base asphalt containing subsequently added wax. Wax generated at a refinery can be added to an asphalt along with a pour point depressant to form an asphalt product. The additional wax can reduce the viscosity of the asphalt product at higher temperatures so that the asphalt product can be mixed and stored at a tower temperature. Additionally, the pour point depressant can unexpectedly improve the low temperature properties of the wax-containing asphalt product.
Claims20
A method for upgrading an asphalt feed, comprising:
- fractionating a feedstock containing at least a portion derived from a mineral crude oil at a cut point of at least 750° F. (399° C.) to form an asphalt fraction that contains a first amount of wax;
- and
- mixing the asphalt fraction with a pour point depressant and at least 3 wt % of a refinery wax to form an asphalt product, an amount of the pour point depressant being less than 10 wt % of a combined amount of wax in the asphalt product, the amount of the pour point depressant being 0.5 wt % or less of the asphalt product, the combined amount of wax comprising the first amount of wax and the refinery wax.
A method for upgrading an asphalt feed, comprising:
- fractionating a feedstock containing at least a portion derived from a mineral crude oil to form an asphalt fraction and one or more vacuum gas oil fractions, a cut point between the asphalt fraction and a vacuum gas oil fraction being at least 750° F. (399° C.);
- dewaxing at least a portion of the one or more gas oil fractions under effective solvent dewaxing conditions to form a dewaxed vacuum gas oil and a refinery wax product;
- and
- mixing the asphalt fraction with a pour point depressant and at least 5 wt % of the refinery wax product to form an asphalt product, an amount of the pour point depressant being less than 10 wt % of an amount of wax in the asphalt product, the amount of the pour point depressant being 0.5 wt % or less of the asphalt product, the amount of wax in the asphalt product comprising the refinery wax.
A method for upgrading an asphalt feed, comprising:
- fractionating a feedstock containing at least a portion derived from a mineral crude oil at a cut point of at least 750° F. (399° C.) to form an asphalt fraction that contains a first amount of wax;
- and
- mixing the asphalt fraction with a pour point depressant and at least 5 wt % of a refinery wax to form an asphalt product, an amount of the pour point depressant being less than 10 wt % of a combined amount of wax in the asphalt product, the combined amount of wax in the asphalt product being 5 wt % to 10 wt %, the combined amount of wax comprising the first amount of wax and the refinery wax.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.