| abstract |
A process is disclosed for the production of lube oil base stocks or blending stocks by the isomerization of waxes over isomerization catalysts containing a hydrogenating metal component on a fluorided alumina or material containing alumina, wherein said catalyst in its as-introduced-to-waxy feed form has (1) a hydrate level of 60 or less, determined as the relative amount of hydrate represented by a peak in the X-ray diffraction pattern at 2Θ = 5.66Å when a hydrate level of 100 corresponds to the XRD peak height exhibited by a standard material constituting 0.6 wt% Pt on 150 m²/g gamma alumina containing 7.2 wt% F wherein the fluorine has been deposited using an aqueous solution containing a high concentration of HF and the material dried at 150°C for 16 hours (2) a surface nitrogen content N/Al ratio of 0.01 or less, as determined by X-ray photo electron spectroscopy; (3) a bulk fluorine concentration of from 2 -10 wt% and (4) a fluorine concentration in the layer between the catalyst edge and a depth of about 1/100 inch (0.254 mm) of less than about 3 wt% provided that the surface fluorine concentration is less than the bulk fluorine concentration. n Alternatively, the catalyst is prepared by depositing a hydrogenation metal on alumina or material containing alumina support, calcining said metal-loaded support and fluoriding said metal-loaded support using either a fluorine source solution at a pH of 3.5 to 4.5, to a bulk level of about 8 wt% or less followed by drying/heating in air, oxygen or an inert atmosphere at a temperature from 350 to 450°C or a fluorine source solution having a pH or less than 3.5 to a bulk level of about 10 wt% or less followed by drying/heating at a temperature of 350 to 450°C, said drying/heating being conducted in air, an oxygen-containing atmosphere, hydrogen or in inert atmosphere. |