The refining process of mineral oils has improved greatly in the 20th century. The American Petroleum Institute (API) divided all base oils into five separate groups in the early 1990s. The first 3 groups were dedicated to mineral oils and the 2 remaining groups contained synthetic oils predominantly.
Group 1, 2 and 3 are all mineral oils, with chronologically increasing refining process severity. Base oils under Group 1 are made using solvent-refining or solvent-extraction technology.
Base oils under Group 2 are produced by hydrotreating or hydrogenation. It is a process that uses hydrogen gas to refine oils, but they are better for converting components like aromatics that are undesirable, into hydrocarbon structures that are desirable.
Base oils in Group 3 are produced in a similar fashion as Group 2; the only difference is that the process of hydrogenation or hydrotreating in group 3 is coupled with high pressures and high temperatures. This leads to convert all the undesirable components in the oil into desirable hydrocarbon structures.
• Automotive engine oils
• Gear oils & transmission fluids
• Hydraulic oils
• Compressor & turbine oils
• Greases (as the base fluid)
• Metalworking fluids (cutting, machining, rolling oils)
• Heat transfer oils
• Process oils in manufacturing
• Engine lubrication
• Axle & differential oils
• Shock absorber fluids
• Rubber & plastic processing oils
• Textile oils
• White oils (after further refining) for pharma & cosmetics
• Additive carrier oils
• Transformer oils (specific grades)
• Marine lubricants
• Agricultural machinery oils
CERTIFICATE OF ANALYSIS
Light Liquid Paraffin Oil IP is a purified mixture of hydrocarbons derived from petroleum.
Recycled Base Oil is a petroleum product obtained by re-refining used oil.