Claims
- 1. A process for producing a high viscosity index (V.I.), low pour point lubricant from a petroleum feed, which comprises:
- (i) dewaxing the feed to form a paraffinic petroleum wax feed containing at least 50 weight percent paraffins, and having an initial boiling point above about 650.degree. F.,
- (ii) partially dewaxing the wax feed in an initial catalytic dewaxing step by contacting the feed under dewaxing conditions of elevated temperature and pressure in the presence of hydrogen at a hydrogen partial pressure from 2,000 to 10,000 kPa with a dewaxing catalyst comprising zeolite beta and a hydrogenation-dehydrogenation component, to effect a partial removal of waxy paraffinic components by isomerization of the waxy paraffinic components to relatively less waxy iso-paraffinic components, to produce partially dewaxed effluent, and
- (iii) subjecting the partially dewaxed effluent to a selective dewaxing operation to effect a removal of waxy components while minimizing removal of the branched chain isoparaffinic components, to produce a dewaxed lubricant product basestock having a V.I. of at least 130 and a pour point not higher than 10.degree. F.
- 2. A process according to claim 1 in which the lubricant product has a V.I. of at least 140.
- 3. A process according to claim 1 in which the lubricant product has a pour point not higher than 5.degree. F.
- 4. A process according to claim 1 in which the wax feed has a paraffin content of at least 70 weight percent.
- 5. A process according to claim 1 in which the wax feed has a paraffin content of at least 80 weight percent.
- 6. A process according to claim 4 in which the wax feed comprises slack wax.
- 7. A process according to claim 4 in which the wax feed comprises de-oiled wax.
- 8. A process according to claim 1 in which the selective dewaxing operation is a solvent dewaxing.
- 9. A process according to claim 8 in which wax separated during the solvent dewaxing is recycled to the partial dewaxing step.
- 10. A process according to claim 1 in which the zeolite beta has a silica:alumina ratio of at least 30:1.
- 11. A process according to claim 10 in which the hydrogenation-dehydrogenation component on the zeolite beta dewaxing catalyst comprises a noble metal.
- 12. A process according to claim 1 in which the conversion in the initial catalytic dewaxing step is from 20 to 60 weight percent to products boiling below 650.degree. F.
- 13. A process according to claim 12 in which the conversion in the initial catalytic dewaxing step is from 30 to 50 weight percent to products boiling below 650.degree. F.
- 14. A process according to claim 1 in which the partially dewaxed effluent has a pour point from 5.degree. to 20.degree. F.
- 15. A process according to claim 1 in which the selective dewaxing operation is a catalytic dewaxing over a dewaxing catalyst comprising zeolite ZSM-23.
- 16. A process according to claim 15 in which the dewaxing catalyst comprises a noble metal and ZSM-23.
- 17. A process according to claim 1 in which the selective dewaxing operation is a catalytic dewaxing over a dewaxing catalyst comprising zeolite ZSM-5.
- 18. A process according to claim 17 in which the dewaxing catalyst comprises a metal component having hydrogenation functionality and ZSM-5.
- 19. A process according to claim 18 in which the metal component is nickel.
- 20. A process according to claim 1 in which the dewaxed lubricant product is hydrotreated to saturate aromatics.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of copending application Ser. No. 044,187, filed on Apr. 30, 1987 (now abandoned), which is a continuation of 793,937, Nov. 1, 1985, abandoned.
US Referenced Citations (15)
Foreign Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Date |
Country |
1390359 |
Apr 1975 |
GBX |
1429494 |
Mar 1976 |
GBX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
"Lube Oil Manufacture by Severe Hydrotreatment", S. Bull et al, pp. 221-PD 19(2). |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
44187 |
Apr 1987 |
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Continuation in Parts (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
793937 |
Nov 1985 |
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