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Abstract

A process is disclosed to produce liquid oligomers from alpha-olefins feedstock, such as 1-decene, wherein said oligomers have branch ratios below 0.19 and have higher viscosity indices than oligomers with higher branch ratios. The olefins can be oligomerized over a supported and reduced metal oxide catalyst from Group VIB of the Periodic Table to give oligomers suitable for lubricant application. A preferred catalyst is lower valence state chromium on silica support. Surprisingly, it has been found that in the oligomerization of the alpha-olefins in a fixed bed reactor containing extruded catalyst the viscosity of the lubricant produced can be selectively controlled by carrying out the oligomerization at essentially constant oligomerization temperature while varying the olefin feedstock weight hourly space velocity (WHSV), based on catalyst, in correspondence with the preferred product viscosity.

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First Claim