The Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) through its constituent laboratory Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Dehradun, in association with the Engineers India Ltd (EIL) had won international competition to adopt the Wax Deoiling Technology at Numaligarh Refinery Ltd (NRL). The Wax Deoiling Plant based on such indigenously developed technology is set up with an investment of 750 crore rupees at NRL - a subsidiary of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) - situated in north-east part of India.

            The first batch of Paraffin Wax has been produced and regular production of Paraffin Wax is expected to start by the end of first quarter 2015. This commercialization of indigenous technology is in line with ‘Make in India’ initiative taken by the Government of India.

            The CSIR made the announcement on the eve of the national science day tomorrow.

            The Wax Deoiling Technology is used to produce waxes from petroleum streams. This newly set up plant will produce 50,000 MMTPA of high value Paraffin Wax and 4,500  MTPA of Microcrystalline Wax that will help cut down the wax import by 50 per cent and  will save the foreign exchange of the order of about 500 crore rupees/annum. Besides, the production of Paraffin and Microcrystalline waxes at NRL, it will also help to add new high value wax products in refinery’s product slate and will contribute in enhancing the refinery’s profitability. Paraffin wax is used for making candles, polishes, medicines, food packaging, paints, leather etc, while Microcrystalline Wax is mainly used in cosmetic industry.

Salient Features of CSIR-IIP & EIL Solvent Dewaxing-Deoiling Technology

• Lower solvent-to-feed ratio with prudent filtrate recycles

• Optimum solvent dilution scheme combining delayed dilution, incremental dilution

  and cold dilution techniques for maximum gains

• Controlled crystallization for larger crystals with narrow crystal size distribution

• Low specific coke resistance and high slurry filterability

• Two-stage filtration with balanced filter cycle

• High wash efficiency energy efficient process with built in operational flexibility

  and continuous process back-up etc.

Societal Benefits

            This wax plant will help to develop small-scale ancillaries and cottage industries in the nearby areas and will promote industrial development in the north-east region of India. This plant will also generate direct and indirect employment opportunities for local people, thereby improving their quality of life.

Future Market 

            Licensing of the technology to NRL and confidence reposed by NRL-BPCL Board in  CSIR IIP-EIL-NRL technology has opened up opportunities for providing know-how for   any other new unit that may come up in the country or abroad. The CSIR IIP-EIL-NRL wax technology also opens up opportunity for export of this indigenous technology, as a commercial reference of this technology is available now.

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 KSP/AK