Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A process for producing liquid oligomers useful as lubricants from alpha-olefins feedstock, such as 1-decene. The olefins are oligomerized over a supported and reduced metal oxide catalyst from Group VIB of the Periodic Table to produce the oligomers. The chromium-on-silica oligomerization catalysts can be regenerated to allow repeated recycling of the catalyst with reduced losses in yield of the lubricant. The regeneration process is particularly useful to regenerate catalyst deactivated during the course of oligomerization at high temperatures to produce low viscosity HVI-PAO lubricant. The regeneration process is carried out by (i) purging the deactivated catalyst with inert gas to strip unreacted olefin and lubricant product; (ii) contacting the purged catalyst with a stream of oxidizing gas at an elevated temperature to oxidize the carbonaceous deposits; and (iii) cooling the catalyst and contacting it with a stream of reducing gas to reduce the metal component to a lower valence state.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim