Enhanced lube oil yield by low or no hydrogen partial pressure catalytic dewaxing of paraffin wax

Abstract

Catalytic dewaxing of paraffin containing feeds with a catalyst having a certain pore structure, the feeds preferably produced from syn gas using a non-shifting Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, is accomplished in the substantial absence of added hydrogen, and a cyclic isomerization-catalyst regeneration process is provided.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A catalytic dewaxing process which comprises reacting a paraffin containing feed stock over a catalyst comprised of a molecular sieve with a one dimensional pore structure having an average diameter of 0.50 to 0.65 nm, and a metal dehydrogenation component at dewaxing reaction conditions and in the substantial absence of added hydrogen.  
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1  wherein TIR is less than 25° F./year.  
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1  wherein the hydrogen partial pressure is less than about 100 psig.  
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3  wherein the hydrogen partial pressure is less than about 70 psig.  
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4  wherein the paraffin containing feedstock contains greater than 80 wt % n-paraffins and boils in the range above 430° F. (221.1° C.).  
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5  wherein the dehydrogenation component is platinum or palladium.  
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6  wherein the process comprises a cyclic catalytic dewaxing-catalyst regeneration process wherein catalyst is provided in a first reaction zone and a second reaction zone, the paraffin containing feed is dewaxed in the first reaction zone for a pre-determined period after which the paraffin containing feed is transferred to the second zone for dewaxing at reaction conditions, and catalyst in the first zone is regenerated.  
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 7  wherein dewaxing occurs in the second zone for a pre-determined period after which the paraffin containing feed is transferred to the first reaction zone wherein dewaxing occurs over the regenerated catalyst, and the catalyst in the second zone is regenerated.  
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8  wherein catalyst regeneration is effected by hydrogen stripping or oxygen treatment.  
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 5  wherein the product of the catalytic dewaxing process is a lube base stock or a diesel range material.  
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10  wherein the product is subjected to hydrofinishing.  
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11  wherein the molecular sieve is selected from the group consisting of ZSM-23, ZSM-35, ZSM-48, ZSM-22, SSZ-32, zeolite beta, mordenite, rare earth ion exchanged ferrierite and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the molecular sieve is ZSM-48.