Catalytic processes and systems for base oil production from light feedstock
AssigneeChevron U.S.A. Inc.
InventorsKamala Krishna, Guan-Dao Lei
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Abstract
Processes and catalyst systems are provided for dewaxing a light hydrocarbon feedstock to form a lubricant base oil. A layered catalyst system of the present invention may comprise a first hydroisomerization dewaxing catalyst disposed upstream from a second hydroisomerization dewaxing catalyst. Each of the first and second hydroisomerization dewaxing catalysts may be selective for the isomerization of n-paraffins. The first hydroisomerization catalyst may have a higher level of selectivity for the isomerization of n-paraffins than the second hydroisomerization dewaxing catalyst.
Claims14
A process for catalytically dewaxing a light waxy hydrocarbon feedstock, comprising:
- a) contacting the hydrocarbon feedstock in a first hydroisomerization zone under first hydroisomerization dewaxing conditions with a first hydroisomerization catalyst to provide a first isomerization stream;
- and
- b) contacting at least a portion of the first isomerization stream in a second hydroisomerization zone under second hydroisomerization dewaxing conditions with a second hydroisomerization catalyst to provide a second isomerization stream, wherein each of the first hydroisomerization catalyst and the second hydroisomerization catalyst comprises zeolite SSZ-32 and a Group VIII metal;
- the first hydroisomerization catalyst further comprising a metal modifier selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, K, La, Pr, Nd, Cr, and combinations thereof;
- and the second hydroisomerization catalyst consists essentially of the molecular sieve, the Group VIII metal, and a refractory oxide binder;
- wherein the first hydroisomerization catalyst has a first level of selectivity for the isomerization of n-paraffins in the feedstock, the second hydroisomerization catalyst has a second level of selectivity for the isomerization of n-paraffins in the feedstock, and wherein the first level of selectivity is higher than the second level of selectivity.
A process for catalytically dewaxing a waxy hydrocarbon feedstock, comprising:
- a) contacting the hydrocarbon feedstock in a first hydro isomerization zone under first hydroisomerization dewaxing conditions with a first hydroisomerization catalyst to provide a first isomerization stream;
- b) contacting at least a portion of the first isomerization stream in a second hydroisomerization zone under second hydroisomerization dewaxing conditions with a second hydroisomerization catalyst to provide a second isomerization stream;
- and
- c) contacting the second isomerization stream with a hydro finishing catalyst to provide a base oil product, wherein each of the first hydroisomerization catalyst and the second hydroisomerization catalyst comprises a zeolite SSZ-32 and a Group VIII metal;
- the first hydroisomerization catalyst has a first level of selectivity for the isomerization of n-paraffins in the feedstock, the second hydroisomerization catalyst has a second level of selectivity for the isomerization of n-paraffins, and wherein the first level of selectivity is higher than the second level of selectivity;
- the first hydroisomerization catalyst is doped with a metal modifier selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, K, La, Pr, Nd and Cr;
- the second hydroisomerization catalyst consists essentially of a refractory oxide binder, the zeolite SSZ-32 and the Group VIII metal;
- the first and second hydroisomerization catalysts are disposed in the same reactor, and wherein the base oil product has a pour point of not more than about −12° C. and a pour-cloud spread of not more than about 5° C.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.