What is the difference between synthetic wax, paraffin wax, and microcrystalline wax?

Components of wax: Paraffin wax and microcrystalline wax are colorless and odorless solid saturated hydrocarbon mixtures obtained through the distillation of crude oil. The molecular size of its components, as well as its overall hardness and melting point, are all higher than those of Vaseline. Petroleum wax is primarily composed of normal alkanes and isoalkanes with long carbon chains, whereas microcrystalline wax, in addition to normal alkanes and isoalkanes, also contains many saturated hydrocarbons with long side chains and rings. As a result, the melting point, molecular weight, and viscosity of microcrystalline wax are all higher than those of paraffin wax, and it has lower brittleness and is less prone to breaking. Ozokerite and Ceresin: Ozokerite and cerasin are derived from coal mines. Paraffin wax is a brittle, waxy substance that ranges in color from light yellow to dark brown. Its composition consists of a mixture of linear, branched, and cyclic high-molecular-weight hydrocarbons, and it has higher melting points, viscosity, and hardness compared to petroleum wax. Beeswax is obtained by purifying and bleaching paraffin wax; it has a whiter color, and its melting point, viscosity, and hardness are all lower than those of paraffin wax. Paraffin wax and microcrystalline wax are colorless and odorless solid mixtures of saturated hydrocarbons, derived from the distillation of crude oil. The molecular size of its components, as well as its overall hardness and melting point, are all higher than those of Vaseline. Petroleum wax is primarily composed of normal alkanes and isoalkanes with long carbon chains, whereas microcrystalline wax, in addition to normal alkanes and isoalkanes, also contains many saturated hydrocarbons with long side chains and rings. As a result, the melting point, molecular weight, and viscosity of microcrystalline wax are all higher than those of paraffin wax, and it has lower brittleness and is less prone to breaking. Ozokerite and Ceresin: Ozokerite and cerasin are derived from coal mines. Paraffin wax is a brittle, waxy substance that ranges in color from light yellow to dark brown. Its composition consists of a mixture of linear, branched, and cyclic high-molecular-weight hydrocarbons, and it has higher melting points, viscosity, and hardness compared to petroleum wax. Paraffin is obtained by purifying and bleaching beeswax; it has a whiter color, and its melting point, viscosity, and hardness are all lower than those of beeswax. Microcrystalline wax is a refined synthetic wax with properties similar to those of microcrystals; it features good luster, a high melting point, and a light color. Its structure is compact, making it firm yet smooth; it can blend with various natural waxes and raise the melting point of lower-grade waxes, as well as improve the properties of coarse waxes. Microcrystalline wax is itself as white as jade and becomes shiny when rubbed, which has a highly favorable effect on the production of light-colored products. Microcrystalline wax has excellent oil-absorbing properties; it can form stable, homogeneous pastes with various solvents and waxes, and it also possesses emulsifying capabilities. It can be used as a processing aid in the production of shoe polish, car wax, polishing waxes, floor waxes, finishing waxes, traditional Chinese medicine pills, protective agents, candles, wax toys, dental materials, and cosmetics. Furthermore, using this material in wax paper formulations results in clear handwriting and a significantly improved resistance to abrasion. Microcrystalline wax has a wide range of applications; it represents the latest advancement in synthetic waxes from the 1990s. It can replace imported similar waxes, reducing costs by about 50%. Paraffin, also known as crystalline wax, is a mixture of hydrocarbons with approximately 18–30 carbon atoms; its main component is straight-chain alkanes (about 80%–95%), with small amounts of alkanes containing occasional branches and monocyclic cycloalkanes with long side chains (the combined content of these two is less than 20%). Paraffin is obtained by subjecting the lubricating oil fractions derived from crude oil distillation to solvent refining, solvent dewaxing, or wax crystallization through cooling followed by extrusion dewaxing; thereafter, it is deoiled and further refined to produce flaky or needle-shaped crystals. Depending on the degree of processing and refinement, it can be divided into three types: fully refined paraffin, semi-refined paraffin, and crude paraffin. Each type of wax is further divided into different grades based on its melting point, usually at intervals of 2°C, such as grades 52, 54, 56, 58, etc. Coarse paraffin has a high oil content and is mainly used in the manufacture of matches, fiberboard, canvas, and other products. Fully refined paraffin and semi-refined paraffin have a wide range of uses; they are primarily used as components in foods, oral medications, and certain products such as waxed paper, crayons, candles, and carbon paper, as coatings for baking containers, for preserving fruits, for insulating electrical components, and to improve the resistance to aging and flexibility of rubber. It can also be used for oxidation to produce synthetic fatty acids.

"Microcrystalline wax is a refined synthetic wax with properties similar to those of microcrystals. How should the term “synthetic” be understood in this context? What is the synthesis process? Is it a different process from the “fractional distillation” mentioned earlier?