Why Does Hydrotreated Paraffin Wax Still Have Odor? How to Optimize?

In the paraffin wax application industry, many customers prefer high-purity wax with no or minimal odor, especially for food-grade, pharmaceutical-grade, and cosmetic-grade products. However, even after hydrotreatment, some paraffin wax may still have a noticeable odor. Where do these odors come from, and how can product quality be further optimized?

Sources of Paraffin Wax Odor

Although hydrotreatment significantly reduces impurities, the following factors may still contribute to residual odors in paraffin wax:

1.Insufficient Hydrotreatment Process Optimization

Inadequate hydrogenation temperature or pressure, leading to incomplete removal of organic impurities.
Aging of hydrogenation catalysts, resulting in reduced desulfurization, denitrification, and deoxygenation efficiency.
Insufficient hydrogen purity, which may introduce trace odor compounds.

2.Raw Material Quality Issues

Feedstock containing aromatic hydrocarbons, sulfur compounds, or organic acids that are difficult to remove completely, even after hydrotreatment.
Oxidation reactions occurring during storage or transportation, leading to the formation of aldehydes, ketones, and carboxylic acids with noticeable odors.

3.Inadequate Post-Treatment Processes

Incomplete bleaching earth refining or activated carbon adsorption, failing to remove trace odor compounds effectively.

4.Storage and Transportation Factors

Residual odor-bearing substances in storage tanks and pipelines contaminating the final wax product.
Absorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during transportation, increasing odor levels.

How to Reduce Paraffin Wax Odor?

If the hydrotreated paraffin wax still exhibits a noticeable odor, the following optimization strategies can be implemented:

1.Optimize the Hydrotreatment Process

Increase hydrogenation temperature and pressure to ensure deep desulfurization, denitrification, and deoxygenation.
Replace aging catalysts with high-activity catalysts.

2.Enhance Post-Treatment Steps

Utilize bleaching earth refining or activated carbon adsorption to remove residual odor compounds.

3.Improve Storage and Transportation Conditions

Ensure storage tanks and pipelines are thoroughly cleaned to prevent secondary contamination.
Minimize exposure to air to reduce oxidation.

Odor Requirements for Different Applications

For food, cosmetic, or pharmaceutical-grade paraffin wax, a combination of bleaching earth refining, activated carbon adsorption, and vacuum degassing is recommended to further reduce odor and enhance purity.

If you require stricter odor control for paraffin wax, feel free tocontact us. We offer customized optimization solutions tailored to your needs!