Process for making a lube basestock

Abstract

A method for hydroisomerizing a waxy feed to favor one of VI or yield is described. The method uses a unitized pellet powder catalyst comprising a metal hydrogeneration component, a first catalytic component selected from 8, 10 and 12 ring moleular sieves and mixtures thereof, and a second amorphous isomerization component which is an amorphous inorganic oxide. Importantly, the ratio of feed and second components are present in a predetermined ratio to provide a preselected acidity favoring one of VI or yield resulting from the hydroisomerization.

1 . A method for hydroisomerizing a waxy feed to produce improved yield of a lube basestock which comprises: 
 (a) contacting the waxy feed under hydroisomerization conditions with a catalyst comprising a unitized mixed powdered pellet catalyst, said catalyst comprising: 
 (i) a first dewaxing component selected from 8, 10 and 12 ring molecular sieves and mixtures thereof having a metal hydrogenation component dispersed thereon;  
 (ii) a second isomerization component which is an amorphous inorganic oxide said second component having a metal hydrogenation component dispersed thereon; and  
 (iii) wherein the first and second components are present in a ratio such that when evaluated in the conversion of methyl cyclohexane at 320° C. to 1,1-dimethylcyclopentane, 1,2-dimethylcyclopentane, 1,3-dimethylcyclopentane and ethylcyclopentane, the catalyst will provide a trans-1,2-/trans-1,3-dimethylcyclopentane ratio in the range of less than about 1 and a selectivity to ethylcyclopentane, at 10% conversion, of at least about 50%.  
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the dewaxing component is at least one of a 10 ring and 12 ring molecular sieve.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the isomerization component is at least one of silica, alumina, titania, zirconia, silica-alumina and silica-magnesia.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  wherein the isomerization component is at least one of silica, alumina, titania, and zirconia.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the hydrogenation component is a Group VIII metal.  
     
     
         6 . The method of claim  5 wherein the hydrogenation component is selected from Pt, Pd, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the hydrogenation component is dispersed in an amount ranging from about 0.1 wt. % to about 30 wt. %.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the amorphous inorganic oxide is promoted or doped with yttria, rare earth oxides, boria and magnesia.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the feed is a feed that is solvent dewaxed to a pour point of up to +10° C.  
     
     
         10 . A method for hydroisomerizing a waxy feed to produce improved yield of a lube basestock which comprises: 
 (a) contacting the waxy feed under hydroisomerization conditions with a catalyst comprising a unitized mixed powdered pellet catalyst, said catalyst comprising: 
 (i) a first dewaxing component selected from 8, 10 and 12 ring molecular sieves and mixtures thereof having a metal hydrogenation component dispersed thereon;  
 (ii) a second isomerization component which is an amorphous inorganic oxide said second component having a metal hydrogenation component dispersed thereon; and  
 (iii) wherein said first and second components are present in a ratio such that when evaluated in the conversion of methyl cyclohexane at 320° C. to 1,1-dimethylcyclopentane, 1,2-dimethylcyclopentane, 1,3-dimethylcyclopentane and ethylcyclopentane, the catalyst will provide a trans-1,2-/trans-1,3-dimethylcyclopentane ratio in the range of at least 1 and a selectivity to ethylcyclopentane, at 10% conversion, of at least about 50%.  
   
     
     
         11 . A method for hydroisomerizing a waxy feed to produce improved yield of a lube basestock which comprises: 
 (a) contacting the waxy feed under hydroisomerization conditions with a catalyst comprising a unitized mixed powdered pellet catalyst, said catalyst comprising: 
 (i) at least one first component selected from 8, 10 and 12 ring molecular sieves, and mixtures thereof, having a metal hydrogenation component dispersed thereon;  
 (ii) at least one second component selected from 8, 10 and 12 ring molecular sieves, and mixtures thereof, having a metal hydrogenation component dispersed thereon; and  
 (iii) wherein said first and second components are present in a ratio such that when evaluated in the conversion of methyl cyclohexane at 320° C. to 1,1-dimethylcyclopentane, 1,2-dimethylcyclopentane, 1,3-dimethylcyclopentane and ethylcyclopentane, the catalyst will provide a trans-1,2-/trans-1,3-dimethylcyclopentane ratio in the range of less than about 1 and a selectivity to ethylcyclopentane, at 10% conversion, of at least about 50%.  
   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the dewaxing component is at least one of a 10 ring and 12 ring molecular sieve.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11  wherein the 10 and 12 ring molecular sieves are selected from alumino silicates and alumino phosphates.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the alumino silicates are selected from ZSM -5, ZSM-11, ZSM-12, ZSM-22, ZSM-23, ZSM-35, natural and synthetic ferrierites, ZSM-48, ZSM-57, SSZ-31, Beta, Mordenite, Offretite, ECR-42, MCM-71, and ITQ-13.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein said at least one first component is ITQ-13 and said at least one second component is selected from ZSM-48, ZSM-35, ZSM-22, ZSM-23, ZSM-57, SSZ-31, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 14  wherein said at least one first component is selected from ITQ-13, ZSM-57, and mixtures thereof, and said at least one second component is selected from ZSM-22, ZSM-23, ZSM-35, ZSM-48, SSZ-31, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 11  wherein said first and second components are present in a ratio such that when evaluated in the conversion of methyl cyclohexane at 320° C. to 1,1-dimethylcyclopentane, 1,2-dimethylcyclopentane, 1,3-dimethylcyclopentane and ethylcyclopentane, the catalyst will provide a trans-1,2-/trans-1,3-dimethylcyclopentane ratio in the range of less at least 1 and a selectivity to ethylcyclopentane, at 10% conversion, of at least about 50%.