Disclosed are methods and apparatuses for separating a wax product from a hydrocarbon feedstream by a) conducting a hydrocarbon feedstream to a membrane separation zone; b) retrieving at least one retentate product stream from the first side of the membrane element; c) retrieving at least one permeate product stream having a wax phase and an oil phase from a second side of the membrane element, wherein a pour point of the wax phase of the permeate product stream is higher than a pour point of the oil phase of permeate product stream; and d) separating a wax product from the wax phase of the permeate product stream.

Disclosed are Group III base stocks comprising at least 30 wt % naphthenes, a viscosity index from 120 to 145; and a unique ratio of molecules with multi-ring naphthenes to single ring naphthenes (2R+N/1RN). A method for preparing the base stocks is also disclosed. Also disclosed is a lubricating oil having the base stock as a major component, and an additive as a minor component.

Disclosed are Group III base stocks comprising at least 30 wt % naphthenes, a viscosity index from 120 to 145; and a unique ratio of molecules with multi-ring naphthenes to single ring naphthenes (2R+N/1RN). A method for preparing the base stocks is also disclosed. Also disclosed is a lubricating oil having the base stock as a major component, and an additive as a minor component.

The present invention relates to a method for fractionating a crude mixture comprising at least one oil and at least one wax, which comprises the following steps: (a) mixing the crude mixture with a solvent to obtain a crude solvent-mixture, (b) carrying out at least one crystallization stage with the solvent-mixture obtained in step (a) to prepare a first fraction containing dewaxed oil and a second fraction containing slack wax, (c) carrying out at least one crystallization stage with the second fraction obtained in step (b) in a layer crystallizer, wherein to the second fraction prior to the crystallization in step (c) no solvent or at most 100% by weight of solvent relative to the weight of the second fraction are added, to prepare a third fraction containing hard wax having an oil content of at most 1.5% by weight and a fourth fraction containing soft wax having an oil content of more than 1.5% by weight and (d) circulating at least a part of the fourth fraction into at least one of the at least one crystallization stage of step (b).

The present invention relates to a method for fractionating a crude mixture comprising at least one oil and at least one wax, which comprises the following steps: (a) mixing the crude mixture with a solvent to obtain a crude solvent-mixture, (b) carrying out at least one crystallization stage with the solvent-mixture obtained in step (a) to prepare a first fraction containing dewaxed oil and a second fraction containing slack wax, (c) carrying out at least one crystallization stage with the second fraction obtained in step (b) in a layer crystallizer, wherein to the second fraction prior to the crystallization in step (c) no solvent or at most 100% by weight of solvent relative to the weight of the second fraction are added, to prepare a third fraction containing hard wax having an oil content of at most 1.5% by weight and a fourth fraction containing soft wax having an oil content of more than 1.5% by weight and (d) circulating at least a part of the fourth fraction into at least one of the at least one crystallization stage of step (b).

Methods are provided for producing lubricant base oils from petrolatum. After solvent dewaxing of a brightstock raffinate to form a brightstock base oil, petrolatum is generated as a side product. The petrolatum can be hydroprocessed to form base oils in high yield. The base oils formed from hydroprocessing of petrolatum have an unexpected pour point relationship. For a typical lubricant oil feedstock, the pour point of the base oils generated from the feedstock increases with the viscosity of the base oil. By contrast, lubricant base oils formed from hydroprocessing of petrolatum have a relatively flat pour point relationship, and some of the higher viscosity base oils unexpectedly have lower pour points than lower viscosity base oils generated from the same petrolatum feed. The base oils from petrolatum are also unusual in yielding both high viscosity and high viscosity index and can be generated while maintaining a high yield.

Methods are provided for producing lubricant base oils from petrolatum. After solvent dewaxing of a brightstock raffinate to form a brightstock base oil, petrolatum is generated as a side product. The petrolatum can be hydroprocessed to form base oils in high yield. The base oils formed from hydroprocessing of petrolatum have an unexpected pour point relationship. For a typical lubricant oil feedstock, the pour point of the base oils generated from the feedstock increases with the viscosity of the base oil. By contrast, lubricant base oils formed from hydroprocessing of petrolatum have a relatively flat pour point relationship, and some of the higher viscosity base oils unexpectedly have lower pour points than lower viscosity base oils generated from the same petrolatum feed. The base oils from petrolatum are also unusual in yielding both high viscosity and high viscosity index and can be generated while maintaining a high yield.

The present invention relates to a method for fractionating a crude mixture comprising at least one oil and at least one wax, which comprises the following steps: (a) mixing the crude mixture with a solvent to obtain a crude solvent-mixture, (b) carrying out at least one crystallization stage with the solvent-mixture obtained in step (a) to prepare a first fraction containing dewaxed oil and a second fraction containing slack wax, (c) carrying out at least one crystallization stage with the second fraction obtained in step (b) in a layer crystallizer, wherein to the second fraction prior to the crystallization in step (c) no solvent or at most 100% by weight of solvent relative to the weight of the second fraction are added, to prepare a third fraction containing hard wax having an oil content of at most 1.5% by weight and a fourth fraction containing soft wax having an oil content of more than 1.5% by weight and (d) circulating at least a part of the fourth fraction into at least one of the at least one crystallization stage of step (b).

A method of producing oil-based components is disclosed which includes providing VGO and slack wax; combining the VGO as a major component and the slack wax as a minor component to provide a feedstock; subjecting the feedstock to hydrocracking to provide a first effluent; fractionating the first effluent to provide at least a bottom fraction and a middle distillate fraction; recovering the bottom fraction and the middle distillate fraction. A method for improving a viscosity index of base oil includes subjecting the bottom fraction to a dewaxing step to provide a second effluent; fractionating the second effluent to provide at least a middle distillate and base oil; and recovering the middle distillate and the base oil.

A method of producing oil-based components is disclosed which includes providing VGO and slack wax; combining the VGO as a major component and the slack wax as a minor component to provide a feedstock; subjecting the feedstock to hydrocracking to provide a first effluent; fractionating the first effluent to provide at least a bottom fraction and a middle distillate fraction; recovering the bottom fraction and the middle distillate fraction. A method for improving a viscosity index of base oil includes subjecting the bottom fraction to a dewaxing step to provide a second effluent; fractionating the second effluent to provide at least a middle distillate and base oil; and recovering the middle distillate and the base oil.