Chevron U.s.a. Inc.

Novvi LLC

Willbe Ho

Eduardo J Baralt

Jason Wells

Ajit Ramachandra Pradhan

Benton Thomas

Yalin Hao

Jason Charles Rosalli

Liwenny Ho

Cong-Yan Chen

Ajit Ramchandra Pradhan

Cong Yan Chen

Provided herein is a unique process that prepares a saturated hydrocarbon mixture with well-controlled structural characteristics that address the performance requirements driven by the stricter environmental and fuel economy regulations for automotive engine oils. The process allows for the branching characteristics of the hydrocarbon molecules to be controlled so as to consistently provide a composition that has a surprising CCS viscosity at &#x2212;35&#xb0; C. (ASTM D5329) and Noack volatility (ASTM D5800) relationship. The process comprises providing a specific olefinic feedstock, oligomerizing in the presence of a BFcatalyst, and hydroisomerizing in the presence of a noble-metal impregnated, 10-member ring zeolite catalyst.

Process for preparing hydrocarbon mixture exhibiting unique branching structure

Provided herein are hydrocarbon mixtures with controlled structure characteristics that address the performance requirements for finished lubricants driven by the stricter environmental and fuel economy regulations. The branching characteristics of the hydrocarbon molecules are controlled to provide a composition that has a unique and superior viscosity-temperature relationship and Noack volatility. An important aspect of the present invention relates to a saturated hydrocarbon mixture with at least 80% of the molecules having an even carbon number, with the branching characteristic of BP/BI in the range&#x2265;&#x2212;0.6037 (Internal alkyl branching)+2.0, where on average at least 0.3 to 1.5 of the internal methyl branches are located more than 4 carbons away from the terminal carbon when analyzed by carbon NMR. The saturated hydrocarbon mixture with such unique branching structure consistently exhibits a stand out performance in the cold crank simulated viscosity (CCS) vs Noack volatility relationship, which allows for the formulation of lower viscosity engine oils with improved fuel economies.

Hydrocarbon mixture exhibiting unique branching structure

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Emeryville, CA, United States of America

Willbe Ho