A process for producing food grade wax which contains exceedingly low
levels of nitrogen, sulfur and aromatic compounds. A waxy feedstock is
firstly hydrotreated in a first hydrogenation zone to reduce the level of
contaminants such as sulfur, nitrogen and aromatic compounds, and the
resulting effluent from the first hydrogenation zone is introduced into a
hot, high pressure stripper and contacted with a hot, hydrogen-rich
stripping gas to remove ammonia and hydrogen sulfide. The stripped, hot
liquid hydrocarbons are removed from the bottom of the hot, high-pressure
stripper to further reduce the concentration of aromatic compounds by
being hydrogenated in a second hydrogenation zone containing a platinum
or palladium catalyst.