The present disclosure generally relates to processes to produce alpha-olefin oligomers and poly alpha-olefins. In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a process to produce a poly alpha-olefin (PAO), the process including: introducing a C.sub.6-C.sub.32 alpha-olefin and a catalyst system comprising activator and a metallocene compound into a continuous stirred tank reactor or a continuous tubular reactor under reaction conditions, wherein the alpha-olefin is introduced to the reactor at a flow rate of about 100 g/hr or more; and obtaining a product comprising PAO dimer and optional higher oligomers of alpha-olefin, or a combination thereof, the PAO dimer comprising 96 mol % or more of vinylidene, based on total moles of vinylidene, disubstituted vinylene, and trisubstituted vinylene in the product. In at least one embodiment, a process includes functionalizing and/or hydrogenating a PAO product of the present disclosure. In at least one embodiment, a blend includes a PAO product of the present disclosure.

The present invention relates to an alphaolefin oligomer having a uniform structure and a method of preparing the same, in which the alphaolefin oligomer has a uniform molecular structure with a low branch ratio, thereby exhibiting improved thermal and oxidative stability, a long service life, low volatility, a low pour point and a high viscosity index.

Low molecular weight, highly branched polyolefins are provided. Also provided are catalyst-mediated methods of making the low molecular weight, highly branched polyolefins and a catalyst system for carrying out the methods. The catalyst system is a homogeneous catalytic system that includes a single-site organozirconium complex and hydrocarbon-soluble perfluoroarylborate co-catalyst that is highly active for the oligomerization of olefin monomers in non-polar media.

Described herein is a base oil synthesis via ionic catalyst oligomerization further utilizing a hydrophobic process for removing an ionic catalyst from a reaction mixture with a silica gel composition, specifically a reaction mixture comprising an oligomerization reaction to produce PAO utilizing an ionic catalyst wherein the ionic catalyst is removed post reaction.

The invention relates to acrylate-olefin copolymers and to a method for preparing these polymers. The present invention is also directed to lubricant compositions comprising these copolymers, and to the use of these copolymers as a lubricant additive or a synthetic base fluid in a lubricating oil composition, preferably in a gear oil composition, a transmission oil composition, a hydraulic oil composition, an engine oil composition, a marine oil composition, an industrial lubricating oil composition or in grease.

The invention relates to acrylate-olefin copolymers and to a method for preparing these polymers. The present invention is also directed to lubricant compositions comprising these copolymers, and to the use of these copolymers as a lubricant additive or a synthetic base fluid in a lubricating oil composition, preferably in a gear oil composition, a transmission oil composition, a hydraulic oil composition, an engine oil composition, a marine oil composition, an industrial lubricating oil composition or in grease.

A process is disclosed for producing renewable products, such as a renewable base oil, from a feedstock of biological origin. The process includes subjecting a feedstock containing free fatty acids and fatty acid glycerides, wherein at least one hydrocarbon chain is unsaturated, to esterification reaction in the presence of an alcohol. An ester stream thereby obtained is then subjected to metathesis conditions in the presence of a renewable alkene to obtain a metathesis product. Separation of the metathesis product includes recovery of a fraction containing or consisting essentially of C16 fatty acid esters, which is subjected to ketonisation reaction conditions to produce long chain ketones, which after hydrotreatment meet requirements for a renewable base oil. Ketonisation reaction produces renewable alkene usable in metathesis reaction.

A process is disclosed for producing renewable products, such as a renewable base oil, from a feedstock of biological origin. The process includes subjecting a feedstock containing free fatty acids and fatty acid glycerides, wherein at least one hydrocarbon chain is unsaturated, to esterification reaction in the presence of an alcohol. An ester stream thereby obtained is then subjected to metathesis conditions in the presence of a renewable alkene to obtain a metathesis product. Separation of the metathesis product includes recovery of a fraction containing or consisting essentially of C16 fatty acid esters, which is subjected to ketonisation reaction conditions to produce long chain ketones, which after hydrotreatment meet requirements for a renewable base oil. Ketonisation reaction produces renewable alkene usable in metathesis reaction.

The present disclosure generally relates to processes to produce alpha-olefin oligomers and poly alpha-olefins. In an embodiment, a process to produce a poly alpha-olefin (PAO) includes introducing a first alpha-olefin and a first catalyst system comprising a metallocene compound into a continuous stirred tank reactor or a continuous tubular reactor under first reactor conditions to form a first reactor effluent. The alpha-olefin is introduced to the reactor at a flow rate of about 100 g/hr or more. The first reactor effluent includes PAO dimer comprising at least 96 mol % of vinylidene and 4 mol % or less of trisubstituted vinylene and disubstituted vinylene, based on total moles of vinylidene, trisubstituted vinylene, and disubstituted vinylene. The method includes introducing the first reactor effluent, a second alpha-olefin and a second catalyst composition comprising an acid catalyst into a second reactor under second reactor conditions to form a second reactor effluent comprising PAO trimer.

A process for the preparation of saturated hydrocarbon base oils is provided, comprising oligomerization of a feed mixture that has an average carbon number in the range of 14 to 18 to produce an oligomer product comprising dimers, trimers, and higher oligomers, where the dimer has a branching proximity (BP) of 20 or greater, isomerization of at least the dimer portion, and hydrogenation of the isomerized product. The dimer portion is separated from the oligomer product, and a saturated hydrocarbon base oil is obtained comprising greater than 90% dimers having an average carbon number in the range of from 29 to 36, and the dimer portion having a weight average molecular weight in the range of 422 to 510, where the dimers have an average Branching Index (BI) in a range of 22 to 26 and an average paraffin branching proximity (BP) in a range of from 18 to 26.