Saturation process for making lubricant base oils

A method for producing a lubricant base oil, comprising:

• contacting an input feed having an aromatics content of at least 50 mmol/kg with a first catalyst under first effective aromatic saturation conditions to produce a first effluent having an aromatics content of less than 200 mmol/kg, the aromatics content of the first effluent being less than the aromatics content of the input feed, the first effective aromatic saturation conditions including a temperature of at least 320° C. to 370° C.;
• contacting at least a portion of the first effluent with a second catalyst under second effective aromatic saturation conditions to produce a second effluent, the second effective aromatic saturation conditions including a temperature of from 280° C. to 330° C. and a hydrogen partial pressure of at least 4.1 MPag (600 psig), the temperature of the second effective aromatic saturation conditions being at least 10° C. less than the temperature of the first effective aromatic saturation conditions;
• contacting at least a portion of the second effluent with a third catalyst under third effective aromatic saturation conditions to produce a third effluent, the third effective aromatic saturation conditions including a temperature of from 270° C. to 300° C., the temperature of the third effective aromatic saturation conditions being at least 10° C. less than the temperature of the second effective aromatic saturation conditions;
• and
• contacting at least a portion of the third effluent with a fourth catalyst, wherein the fourth catalyst comprises MCM-41, a binder, and from 0.1 wt % to 1.5 wt % of Pt, Pd, or a combination of Pt and Pd, under fourth effective aromatic saturation conditions, the fourth effective aromatic saturation conditions including a temperature of from 220° C. to 270° C., the temperature of the fourth effective aromatic saturation conditions being at least 10° C. less than the temperature of the third effective aromatic saturation conditions.