WAX HYDROISOMERIZATION PROCESS

• Main Authors: RUBIN, MAE KOENING, APELIAN, MINAS ROBERT, DOUGHERTY, RICHARD CHARLES
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 06.06.2006
• Subjects: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; FUELS; LUBRICANTS; LUBRICATING COMPOSITIONS; METALLURGY; MINERAL WAXES; PEAT; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVEHYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, ORGASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING; USE OF CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES EITHER ALONE OR AS LUBRICATINGINGREDIENTS IN A LUBRICATING COMPOSITION

This invention discloses a process for producing a high Viscosity Index lubricant having a viscosity of at least 125 from a waxy hydrocarbon feed having a wax content of at least 40 wt%. The process comprises catalytically dewaxing waxy paraffins present in the feed primarily by isomerization, in the presence of hydrogen and in the presence of a low acidity large pore zeolite molecular sieve having a crystal size of less than 0.1 micron, an alpha value of not more than 30 and containing a noble metal hydrogenation component. The large pore zeolite is preferably zeolite beta loaded with 0.3 to 2 wt% Pt. The feed may be hydrocracked prior to dewaxing with the large pore zeolite. The effluent of the process may also be further dewaxed by either solvent or catalytic means in order to achieve target pour point. The products obtained from the process of the present invention are high VI, low point materials obtained in high yield. These products are highly stable, both oxidatively and thermally and to ultraviolet light. Improved product yields are obtained.