Influence of Processing Conditions on the Properties of High Paraffin Oil and Sediment Composition

The influence of ultrasonic treatment, a polymer additive, and their combined effect on the structural and rheological properties of highly paraffinic, low-resin oil and the composition of separated sediments was studied. The oil was processed in an ultrasonic field (field intensity, 6 W/cm²; frequency, 22 kHz; and time, 1–10 min). The sedimentation process was carried out at a medium temperature of 30°C and a cold rod temperature of 5°C. Viscosity–temperature parameters of oil were determined using a Brookfield DV-III ULTRA rotational viscometer. Ultrasonic treatment for 1 min and a polymer additive (0.05 wt %) led to a decrease in the viscosity by a factor of 5 and in pour point by 8°C. The introduction of the additive and the complex effect contributed to changes in the molecular weight distribution of n-alkanes in sediments: a shift of the second distribution maximum to the region of higher molecular weight components and an increase in the concentration of n-alkanes ΣC₁₇H₃₆–C₃₃H₆₈.