Refined montan wax
(RMW) is a lignite-based chemical product with
wide application and high added value. However, research on its processing
and performance is very limited. Currently, four parameters in the
key preparation procedure for the oxidation bleaching of RMW, including
the concentration of two oxidants (H2SO4 (P1)
and CrO3 (P2)), oxidation time (P3), and the mass ratio
of CrO3 used in two oxidation steps (P4), were systematically
evaluated in regard to their impact on the properties and chemistry
of RMW. The results showed that the four tested parameters visibly
affected RMW, and each parameter had a different impact on the properties
of RMW by range analysis, of which P1 showed a greater influence on
its acid value; P2 influenced its friability, specific surface area,
and aperture; P3 affected its color, initial melting point, and saponification
value; and P4 had a higher impact on its final melting point, melting
range, and hardness. Gas chromatography with flame ionization detection–mass
spectrometry analysis revealed that the compounds found in RMW samples
(RMWs) under different oxidation conditions differed significantly,
with major differences in the content and amount of these components.
Among the compounds in RMWs, 16 different compounds (variable importance
of projection > 1) were found by the orthogonal projections to
latent
structures discriminant analysis method, nine of which have a strong
relationship to the different performances of RMWs. This work provided
a basis for the development of performance-oriented preparation processing
technology for RMW.