| abstract |
A process for the preparation of a lubricating base oil comprises contacting a hydrocarbon feed with a catalyst in the presence of hydrogen, which catalyst comprises a hydrogenation component supported on an amorphous silica-alumina carrier having a macroporosity in the range of from 5 % vol. to 40 % vol. The hydrocarbon feed is most preferably a slack wax or a synthetic wax. A preferred catalyst for use in the process comprises a combination of one or more of the metals cobalt, iron and nickel, and one or more of the metals chromium, molybdenum and tungsten on an amorphous silica-alumina carrier having a macroporosity in the range of from 5 % vol. to 50 % vol. This catalyst is especially preferred when hydrocarbon feeds are processed comprising significant amounts of nitrogen- and sulphur-containing compounds. |