When selecting raw materials, consider the following aspects in light of the specific characteristics of paraffin wax soap.
(1) Carbon Chain Length Distribution of Linear Alkanes
Generally speaking, as a collector, the longer the carbon chain of the fatty acid, the stronger its collection ability, and vice versa. However, excessively long carbon chains can reduce its water solubility, easily form micelles, and lose its activity. Extensive practical experience shows that an appropriate carbon chain length of 16 to 18 carbon atoms is suitable for mineral separation. But considering the unevenness during grinding (in actual production, it is impossible for ball mills to grind all minerals into particles of the same size and viscosity), the carbon chain distribution of paraffin wax soap molecules should be wider. Therefore, when selecting raw materials, a mixture of soap wax at 40°C with wax oil not only meets the mineral separation requirements but also reduces the cost of raw materials.
(2) Oil Content Regulation
For paraffin wax, the concept of oil content generally refers to components other than n-alkanes. In oil refineries, the production of paraffin wax typically involves methods such as sweating, pressing, and solvent extraction. However, regardless of the method used, some non-wax components inevitably remain. These substances' impact on the oxidation reaction of paraffin increases with their content. For synthetic fatty acids, lower oil content in raw materials results in shorter oxidation times and higher yields of finished acid. In the case of oxidized paraffin soap, although the oxidation process may be affected, considering the product's application characteristics, these so-called "oily" components also generate some oxygen-containing functional groups during the oxidation reaction. During the beneficiation process, these oxygen-containing compounds play a positive role in increasing beneficiation speed and enhancing the synergistic effect of reagents. Therefore, for the production of oxidized paraffin soap, the "oil content" of the raw materials should be controlled within a reasonable range, typically 10% to 20% according to practice.