How do you remove wax from crude oil?

Wax is not removed from crude oil until it reaches the refinery. Several processes allow for the removal of wax from crude oil. In many cases the wax is not removed at all, but sent as residue to be broken down thermally in a coking unit or visbreaking unit. Other options include solvent dewaxing which involves adding a large amount of solvent in a ratio of 3:1 to 12:1 to remove the wax in a heavier product known as pitch. Solvent dewaxing is a dated process, and today wax removal is more commonly accomplished by using a catalyst at high temperature and pressure to isomerize the waxy "paraffin" molecules into more usable products (isoparaffins). Isoparaffins have a better viscosity index than paraffin and are typically used as lubricating oils for engines, turbines, etc.