Refining of petrolatum

Claim 1

THE METHOD OF REFINING CRUDE PETROLATUM WHICH COMPRISES PASSING A CHARGE OF SUCH PETROLATUM UNDER HYDROMOLYBDENA CATALYST IN THE PRESENCE OF ADDED HYDROGEN TO OBTAIN A HYDROGENATED PRODUCT OF LIGHTER COLOR THAN SAID CHARGE, CONTINUING SUCH PASSING DURING A PERIOD UNTIL THE HYDROGENATED PRODUCT EFFUENT FALLS BELOW A PREDETERMINED COLOR STANDARD AND THEREAFTER DISCONTINUING CHARGE OF PETROLATUM TO THE CATALYST WHILE CONTINUING TO PASS HYDROGEN OVER THE CATALYST, RAISING THE TEMPERATURE OF THE CATALYST DURING SUCH HYDROGEN PASSAGE IN THE ABSENCE OF PETROLATUM AND MAINTAINING SAID HIGHER TEMPERATURE FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR, THEREAFTER LOWERING THE CATALYST TEMPERATURE TO NEAR THAT USED IN THE HYDROGENATION OF THE PETROLATUM AND RESUMING FLOW OF PETROLATUM TO THE CATALYST WHILE AT SAID LOWERED TEMPERATURE.

Claim 2

THE METHOD OF REFINING CRUDE PETROLATUM WHICH COMPRISES PASSING A CHARGE OF SUCH PETROLATUM UNDER HYDROMOLYBDENA CATALYST IN THE PRESENCE OF ADDED HYDROGEN TO OBTAIN A HYDROGENATED PRODUCT OF LIGHTER COLOR THAN SAID CHARGE, CONTINUING SUCH PASSING DURING A PERIOD UNTIL THE HYDROGENATED PRODUCT EFFUENT FALLS BELOW A PREDETERMINED COLOR STANDARD AND THEREAFTER DISCONTINUING CHARGE OF PETROLATUM TO THE CATALYST WHILE CONTINUING TO PASS HYDROGEN OVER THE CATALYST, RAISING THE TEMPERATURE OF THE CATALYST DURING SUCH HYDROGEN PASSAGE IN THE ABSENCE OF PETROLATUM AND MAINTAINING SAID HIGHER TEMPERATURE FOR AT LEAST AN HOUR, THEREAFTER LOWERING THE CATALYST TEMPERATURE TO NEAR THAT USED IN THE HYDROGENATION OF THE PETROLATUM AND RESUMING FLOW OF PETROLATUM TO THE CATALYST WHILE AT SAID LOWERED TEMPERATURE.