Uop Lcc

Hemant B Gala

Christopher J Anderle

Deng-Yang Jan

Vasant P Thakkar

Robert L Patton

Vinayan Nair

Ben A Wilson

Li Wang

Roger R Lawrence

Methods are disclosed for hydrocracking processes that convert a significant portion of a heavy hydrocarbon feedstock such as vacuum gas oil (VGO) to lower molecular weight, lower boiling hydrocarbons. In addition to molecular weight reduction, the processes also substantially reduce the pour point of a recovered higher boiling fraction or unconverted oil, all or a portion of which may be used as a lube base stock, optionally after one or more further treatment steps such as hydrofinishing. The ability to reduce the pour point, through hydroisomerization, of the higher boiling fraction greatly improves the quality of this fraction, or unconverted oil, for use in lube base stock preparation. Advantageously, separate, conventional hydroisomerization and/or dewaxing steps, often requiring a noble metal catalyst, may be avoided in particular embodiments disclosed herein.

Hydrocracking processes yielding a hydroisomerized product for lube base stocks

Increased yields of LPG and middle distillate products are obtained in a two stage hydrocracking process by the use of a catalyst containing a beta zeolite. In embodiments, the beta zeolite has not been hydrothermally treated or has been hydrothermally treated at a relatively low temperature. In another embodiment, the catalyst contains a relatively low amount of beta zeolite.

Two stage hydrocracking process using beta zeolite for production of LPG and distillate hydrocarbons

A feed stream is processed in a hydrotreating reaction zone and then the hydrotreating effluent is separated into two fractions in a first high pressure separator. The vapor fraction is passed into a second high pressure separator. A controlled portion of the liquid fraction from the first high pressure separator and the liquid from the second high pressure separator are passed into a hydrocracking zone. The remaining portion of the liquid from the first high pressure separator is passed into the product recovery zone.

Low conversion once-through hydrocracking process

A feed stream is first processed in a hydrotreating reaction zone and then the effluent is separated into three fractions in an augmented first high pressure separator. Controlled portions of the middle and heavy hydrocarbon fractions are passed into a high severity hydrocracking zone, while the remaining portions of these two fractions are passed into a second high pressure separator for recovery. The effluent of the hydrocracking zone is also fed to the second high pressure separator.

High severity, low conversion hydrocracking process

Applicants have prepared a novel zeolite identified as LZ-281. This zeolite has the framework topology of zeolite EMT. The LZ-281 zeolite is prepared by removing framework aluminum atoms from EMC-2 zeolite while simultaneously replacing the aluminum atoms with extraneous silicon atoms. This increases the SiO,/Al,O,ratio versus the starting EMC-2 zeolite and results in the LZ-281 zeolite having increased thermal stability, increased number and/or strength of acid sites and increased activity in hydrocarbon processes requiring strong acid sites.

Silicon substituted EMC-2 zeolite: LZ-281

Applicants have prepared a novel zeolite identified as LZ-281. This zeolite has the framework topology of zeolite EMT. The LZ-281 zeolite is prepared by removing framework aluminum atoms from EMC-2 zeolite while simultaneously replacing the aluminum atoms with extraneous silicon atoms. This increases the SiO.sub.2 /Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ratio versus the starting EMC-2 zeolite and results in the LZ-281 zeolite having increased thermal stability, increased number and/or strength of acid sites and increased activity in hydrocarbon processes requiring strong acid sites.

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Arlington Heights, IL, United States of America

Hemant B Gala