TECHNOLOGY

PREMIUM BASE OIL PRODUCTION BY THE HYDROPROCESSING

ROUTE
Use of hydroprocessing to make Group II and Group III lubricants has expanded significantly over the
last decade. Hydrotreating and hydrocracking along with hydroisomerization has been the
predominant hydroprocessing route. ExxonMobil and UOP have formed an Alliance in this area to
combine the best of both companies’ technologies providing the user with a more efficient process.
This article gives an overview of the processes used to make Group II and III lubricants.
Timothy Hilbert and Girish Chitnis, ExxonMobil Research & Engineering Company
Vasant Thakkar, Soumendra Banerjee and Jill Meister, UOP LLC, A Honeywell Company

The worldwide demand for lubricants is expected to increase by Lube basestocks are broken into a number of categories
2.6 percent annually through 2015(1), with Asia predicted to (Groups I to IV – as shown in Figure 1). Group I typically are
remain the fastest growing region. Lubricant demand in the conventional Solvent Refined lube basestocks. Groups II and III
Asia pacific region is ~39 percent of the total world demand. were added to lubricant classifications in the early 1990s to
India individually holds a major market position as the sixth represent low sulfur, low aromatic, and high Viscosity Index (VI)
largest lubricant market in the world and third in Asia. Motor lubricants with good oxidative stability and soot handling. The
vehicles are the largest market for lubricants, and growth will be reduction of wax content in the lubricants also improves the
led by strong gains in the developing Asian countries due to operating range and engine, low temperature performance via
exponential growth of motor vehicles, particularly in China and improved pour and cloud point.
India.
Figure 1 Base Oil Classification (API)
Engine components are subjected to enormous thermal and Group I Group II Group III Group IV
mechanical stresses during operation; hence lubricating oil plays 80 < VI < 120 80 < VI < 120 VI > 120 PAOs
an important role in internal combustion (IC) engines for % Sat <90%
% S > 0.03
(Group II + > ~ 110) (Group II + > ~ 130)
% Sat <90% % Sat <90%
Chemical RX
increased efficiency, higher performance, trouble free % S < 0.03 % S < 0.03
operation and durability. Further, in the wake of pressures to Solvent Refining Catalytic Hydroprocessing Single
Component
reduce vehicle emissions and cutting edge technological
developments in IC engines, the role of automotive lubricant Very Wide Group V
Chemical Spectrum Others
has become vital to meeting future demands being placed on IC (E.g. Synthetic Esters)
engine design. Chemicals RX

Almost all the growth in lubricants today is being met by

production using catalytic technology because of the demand
for higher quality lube basestocks. Higher quality basestocks
are usually defined in terms of higher Viscosity Index (VI). Lower
viscosity reduces friction losses which the auto manufacturers
utilize to improve reliability and fuel efficiency. New plants are
mostly catalytic (e.g. using hydrocracking and
hydroisomerization), while many older solvent based plants are
being shut down or converted to the catalytic route. Beyond
quality there are many other reasons the catalytic route for
producing Lube basestock is more beneficial. In many cases, the
cost of production is lower and new plants benefit from the
economies of scale when building larger plants. The first
catalytic based plants were introduced in the 1980s; however,
at that time, the catalytic route only produced conventional
basestocks (Group I). In the 1990s, hydroisomerization was
introduced to produce basestocks with higher stability.
Hydroisomerization has propagated such that a considerable
amount of lube basestocks are produced in this manner.
Groups II and III production have increased significantly over
the past 15 years at the expense of Group I production (Figure
2). Although Group I is not likely to be eliminated any time
soon, the overall trend is clear, particularly in the lighter grades,
because car manufacturers have specified higher quality
lubricants to operate the more sophisticated and efficient
engines.
These types of lubricants (Group II and III) are almost always
produced using the catalytic route. The predominant catalytic
route involves a combination of hydrocracking and
hydroisomerization. The technology for hydrocracking, such as
the industry-leading UOP UnicrackingTM process, has advanced
significantly over the past decades. Likewise, ExxonMobil
Research and Engineering Company (EMRE) remains a leader in
hydroisomerization development; therefore an Alliance of the
two companies provides substantial synergies. Figure 3 gives an

31
TECHNOLOGY

Figure 2 Global Basestock Lube Production Figure 3 History of UOP's Hydrocracking &
1000 EMRE's Hydroisomerization Progress
UOP & UOP &
Group III Albemarle enter EMRE
750 UOP alliance enter
Group II UOP HC Unicracking alliance
KBD

Unibon™ Process (UOP

UOP HDC & Unocal)
500 Group I Unibon™ Process Process Present
(hydrotreating and (hydrocracking)
hydrocracking) 2000
UOP Lomax UOP ISOMAX 1990
250 Hydrocracking Process EMRE MWI™
Process
Process (wax
1980
hydroisomerization)
0 1970 EMRE MAXSAT™
Process
0
0

8
4

6
2

EMRE MSDW™ (lube saturation)

200
199

200

200
199

199

200

200
199

199

1960 Process
1950 (hydroisomerization)
Assessment of Industra Data EMRE MLDW™
Process
(lube dewaxing)
overview of some of the main technology advancements both EMRE HYDROFINING™
Process
companies have introduced since the 1950s. (wax and lube)

The catalysts used play a critical role in the economic production The UOP and EMRE Alliance mentioned above was formed in
of the high Viscosity Index (VI) lube basestocks required by the July of 2011. After one year of the Alliance, four projects are in
market. The first step is hydrocracking and/or severe the execution phase. One of these projects is for the production
hydrotreating to remove sulfur and nitrogen from the feed, of Group III lube base oil, two projects are for fuels using the
which are poisons to the downstream catalysts. Also important hydroisomerization platforms, and one has elements of both. In
is the reduction of aromatics via both saturation and boiling one case, MIDW and Unicracking technologies are used to
range reduction due to dealkylation and ring opening which in significantly improve diesel yields. In the second and third
effect raises the VI of the unconverted oil sent to the hydroisomerization platform cases, high-cetane ULSD and high-
hydroisomerization unit. The unconverted oil (UCO) from the quality kerosene that meet a very low cloud point will be
hydrocracking unit or the product from the hydrotreating unit produced. The combination of the Unicracking and lubes
can be processed over the hydroisomerization catalyst which finishing technologies provides customers with the optimum
will isomerize the n-paraffins while saturating the remaining route to high quality API Group III Lube basestock.
aromatics. EMRE's MSDW™ technology is well known for this
kind of chemistry and utilizes the MSDW catalyst. Several There are a large number of operating units in the world
generations of MSDW catalysts have developed over the years making lube basestocks. These applications span the world, but
resulting in both improved stability and yield (Figure 4). a number are concentrated in the Gulf Coast of the United
States and East Asia (Figure 5).
Figure 4 UOP/EMRE Value
UOP Unicracking Catalyst Continuous EMRE Lube Processing
Improvements
HC-310LT
And Getting Better
HC-205LT 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990
2nd Stage HC-215LT 2000
HC-120LT • MSDW-2
1981 2001
DHC-2 HC-130LT 1920 • Lube Dewax ing (MLDW) • MAXSAT-1
DHC-8 • Lube Hydroc racking
HC-115LT Naphtha
DHC-32LT HC-140LT 2005
DHC-39LT 1953 1973 • New MSDW
DHC-41LT HC-43LT • Wax HYDROFINING™ • White Oils
HC-150LT
Distillate Selectivity

HC-53LT
1954
• Lube HYDROFINING™ 1989 2003
HC-185LT • Fuels HDC BTMs to Lubes • M WI
HC-175LT
Max Diesel Distillate Flexible HC-26L 1991 2008
HC-24L HC-29LT • Wax Hydroisomerization • M AXSAT-3
1997
• MSDW-1
Activity
1999
• Raffinate Hydroconversion 2006
Optimized (targeted) hydrogen addition • M AXSAT-2

Maximum hydrogenation of products

Optimized for Second Stage operation

32
 TECHNOLOGY

Figure 5 Catalytic Lube Applications of EMRE/UOP Technologies

There are three predominant routes to making Group II and III
base oils (Figure 6). The route of using lube hydrocracking,
MSDW, and MAXSAT technologies to produce lube base oil
usually produces a Group II basestock simply because the Lube
hydrocracker conversion is typically low. This route often
produces heavier Lube basestocks. The second approach is with
a fuels hydrocracking unit, usually operating at higher
conversion and typically producing light neutral base oils with
high VI.
Figure 6 Typical Catalytic Routes
An alternate route is to mix Group I solvent based plants with
Group II catalytic approaches. In this case the extraction unit
does part of the hydrocracking work by removing the poor VI
components and some of the nitrogen and sulfur poisons. A
significant amount of hydroconversion across a raffinate
hydrocracking unit (RHC) is still needed to complete
the removal of poisons and raise the VI for the MSDW process.
A more detailed look at the processing steps and chemistry
occurring in each step during production of the lube oil
basestock using catalytic routes one or two described above are
shown in Figure 7.

Lube HC Bottoms The feed represents a typical Arab Gulf VGO type feed. After
Hydrocracker MSDW/MAXSAT hydrocracking, the aromatics are reduced via conversion (ring
opening and dealkylation) and saturation along with sulfur and
Distillate/DAO

nitrogen reduction. The unconverted oil (UCO) produced by

Fuels
hydrocracking has high waxy VI. After the MSDW reactor, the
HC Bottoms MSDW Vacuum
Hydrocracker MAXSAT Distillation aromatics are further saturated, the normal paraffins are
isomerized for pour point reduction, and the color is improved.
A final hydrofinishing step improves the oxidative stability and
color of lube oil basestock. Dewaxed oil VI is improved
Solvent Raffinate MSDW
Extraction RHC RHC MAXSAT throughout the process (which represents the final VI) although
the waxy VI is reduced.

33
TECHNOLOGY

Figure 7 Typical Unit Performance Measures

First Stage of First Reactor of Second Stage Second Reactor of Second

Hydrocracker of Hydrocracker Stage of Hydrocracker

Hydroprocessing Catalytic Hydrofinishing

Product
(Unicracking Process) Dewaxing (MSDW) (MAXSAT)

VGO VGO After MSDW After MAXSAT

40 - 60% Aromatics <10% Aromatics <2% Aromatics <1% Aromatics
2-3 wt-% Sulfur <10 ppm Sulfur <5 ppm Sulfur <1 ppm Sulfur
70-85 Waxy VI > 130 Waxy VI >120 Dewaxed VI >120 Dewaxed VI
+25-50oC Point +30-40oC Pour Point <-15oC Pour Point <-15oC Pour Point
L3.0-L4.0 Color L0.5-L2.0 Color ~+20 Color +30 Color

technology in the production of the lube basestock is

Lube basestocks produced via the catalytic route are high- differentiated in many ways relative to conventional solvent
quality, high-performance lube basestocks. Typically based lube technology, as indicated in Table 1. The
hydroprocessed lube basestocks have low Noack volatility, hydrocracking technology route allows flexibility in
because the higher VI molecules have lower volatility. This is a feed source to produce higher quality lube basestocks. The
key property requirement for high-quality lube base-stocks for principle advantages lies in the conversion of feed molecules to
modern engine design (Figure 8). desired lube molecules versus the solvent refining process that
Figure 8 Desired Volatility relies on extracting lower quality components from the feed,
and is therefore more dependent on original feed quality.
Group I
19
Group II Table 1. Upfront Lube Oil Process Comparison
17
Noack Volatility, mass%

15 Group III
= Solvent Extraction
13 l Old technology
11 l Limited feed flexibility
9 Group IV / PAO’s
l Medium to low quality feeds require high
7 solvent ratios for higher quality Base Oils
5 l Lower yields of Base Oils
3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 6.5 7 7.5 8 8.5
Viscosity @ 100°C, cSt = Hydrocracking
Lower Noack Volatility for Group II and III l Works with wide variety of feeds
l Converts undesirable compounds into
acceptable lube oil constituents
The Unicracking process, the hydrocracking technology licensed l Hydrogenation reactions without yield loss
by UOP, is the leading technology for conversion of low value l Hydrocracking reqctions resulting in VI
feedstocks into high-value transportation fuel and/or premium improvements
quality lube oil basestocks. Application of the Unicracking

34
 TECHNOLOGY

Figure 9 Key Reactions in Hydrocracking

Metal Catalysis Acid Catalysis HDS

HDS HDS

HDN Isom

Ring-Sat. Cracking

Ring Open
Olefin-Sat.

The Unicracking technology embodies a broad portfolio of several of the lube properties improve as indicated in Figure 10.
commercially proven flow schemes and advanced catalysts Pour point reduction and further quality improvement is
(shown in Figure 4). This enables a tailored solution to maximize achieved by using hydroisomerization processes like the MSDW
lube basestock production or economically co-produce lube and MAXSAT technologies.
basestock and high-quality transportation fuel to meet the
refiner's objectives. Hydroprocessing in general is a well suited As feed is processed in the hydrocracking unit, contaminants
process technology to impart molecular transformation like sulfur and nitrogen are removed, aromatics are saturated
required for production of high-quality lube basestock as and the boiling point of the hydrocarbon shifts; thus viscosity
indicated by types of reactions (Figure 9) that are an integral reduces and VI increases as indicated in Figure 11.
part of the Unicracking technology.

Hydrocracking catalyst design requires a fundamental Figure 11 Lube Basestock from Hydrocracking
understanding of reaction mechanism. Hydrocracking catalysts 150 250
are bi-functional catalysts containing both metal and cracking
functions. The balancing of acid and metal functions is key for 140 200

Viscosity at 100°C, SUS

good catalyst design to achieve optimum performance for the
Waxy Viscosity Index

target severity. 120 150

As a result of proper catalyst design and selection of operating 100 100

conditions, desired reaction chemistry can be optimized for
achieving high-quality lube basestock via hydrocracking. The 80 50
Unicracking technology produces excellent lube basestock since
Figure 10 Balancing Composition for 60 0
Better Lube Base Oil Properties 0 10 20 30 40 50
Conversion Per Pass, Vol%

Normal Praffins R - C - C - C - R
R The Unicracking catalyst portfolio (Figure 12) offers a wide
Isoparaffins R - C - C - R
Oxidative Stability

range of choices depending upon the target product objective.

Viscosity Index

R
Pour Point

Volatility

Solvency

Naphthenes Catalysts are available to hydrocrack a range of feed stock from

Aromatics
R light Atmospheric Gas oil (AGO), Vacuum Gas oil (VGO) to as
heavy as Deashphalted oil (DAO) to convert into transportation
Multiring Naphthalenes fuel, like Naphtha and distillate, and lube base oil.
Multiring Aromatics

35
TECHNOLOGY

Figure 12 UOP Hydrocracking Catalyst Portfolio HC - 115, DHC - 32 LT and DHC - 39 LT produce high-quality lube
HC-310LT
base oil while maximizing yield of distillate fuel. These catalysts
HC-205LT
are capable of producing waxy VI in excess of 135+(Figure13).
nd
2 Stage HC-215LT
HC-120LT
DHC-2
DHC-8
HC-130LT Figure 14 presents VI and viscosity data from a commercial
HC-115LT
DHC-32LT HC-140LT
Naphtha
Unicracking unit producing high quality lube basestock for
DHC-39LT
DHC-41LT HC-43LT
HC-150LT
multiple cycles using DHC - 32 LT and HC - 115 LT catalysts.
Distillate Selectivity

HC-53LT

One advantage with catalytic processing is the inherent crude

Max Diesel Distillate
Activity
Optimized (targeted) hydrogen addition
Maximum hydrogenation of products
Optimized for Second Stage operation
These catalysts also offer a range of hydrogenation activity
from maximum hydrogenation to optimized or targeted
hydrogen addition to the desired product like UCO for high
quality lube basestock production. For example catalyst like
HC-185LT
HC-175LT
flexibility it offers. Hydroprocessing allows achievement of high
Flexible HC-26L
HC-24L HC-29LT VI and is far less sensitive to initial feed quality, but the lube yield
of lube basestock material is dependent on feed quality and the
desired product quality. Poorer crude, high in contaminants and
aromaticity, has a lower starting VI thus requiring higher
conversion severity in the hydrocracking unit and results in a
lower lube basestock yield. However, the converted products
from the hydrocracking unit are primarily high-value
transportation fuel such as high-quality diesel and jet fuel. As
one would expect hydrocracking at high pressure results in
aromatic saturation and ring opening. The hydrocracking unit
Lube basestock VI figures shown in Figure 15 were determined
after solvent dewaxing.

Figure 13 Maximum Saturation

HC-215LT
• DHC - 8
HC-120LT – Diesel selective
– Large pore structure and saturation activity
• Well suited to feeds with high coking tendency
DHC - 8
HC - 115LT • HC - 115LT, DHC-32LT, DHC-39LT
DHC - 32LT – Maximum H2 addition
– Maximum converted product quality
• Kerosene smoke point – Diesel cetane
DHC - 39LT – Saturation of UCO
• High VI lube base oil
– HC - 115LT first choice for lube base oil
production

Max Diesel Distillate

36
 TECHNOLOGY

•Cycle 1– HC-T/DHC-32LT, Recycle Operation, 75-80% Conversion

•Cycle 2– KF-848/HC-115LT, Recycle Operation, 70-80% Conversion, more UCO
•Cycle 3– KF-848/DHC-32LT, Once-through Operation, 70-80% conversion
Consistently High Quality Lube Base Oil Produced

Quite a broad range of feedstocks have been processed in
MSDW units ranging from hydrocracker products, raffinate
products and slack wax from solvent units. The MSDW process
makes all types of lube basestock products ranging from 2
centistokes light neutral lube basestock through high viscosity
Bright Stocks (BS). Unit operating pressure varies greatly
dependent on the types of feed and product desired.
The catalyst cycle life of these units is quite long if reasonable
care is taken with the catalysts. The hydrocracking catalysts
typically last 2 to 5 years depending on the feed and design. The
MSDW catalyst typically lasts 4 to 10 years, again dependent on
the design. There are units that have even achieved 12 year
catalyst lives. The key to long cycle life is feed preparation. One
advantage of the EMRE MSDW technology is that the catalyst
has been developed to give a fairly robust sulfur/nitrogen
tolerance. This tolerance enables the catalyst to be less
susceptible to unit upsets and can survive such events with
greater certainty. This greater reliability is critical to maintaining
lube basestock supply to the customer.

Hydrofinishing is a critical part of catalytic lube manufacture.

ExxonMobil has formulated a hydrofinishing catalyst for use in
the MAXSAT technology that produces low polyaromatics lubes
while maintaining reasonable sulfur and nitrogen tolerance and
using relatively low amounts of noble metals. The MAXSAT
process improves the color, oxidation and thermal stability of
the lube basestock that is produced. It is important to
understand the thermodynamic equilibrium of the process and
select operating conditions in a certain temperature window to
maximize the saturation of poly-nuclear aromatics (Figure 17).

37
TECHNOLOGY

Figure 16 HDT/MSDW: Broad Experience in Commercial Application

23 Catalytic Lube Plants Hydrogen Pressure / Saturates Level

MSDW HDF HDT/HDF(psig) Saturates
Distillate 2200/2200 99+
HDT
Distillate 1400/1200 98
Distillate 1000/800 88-92
Raffinate 900/800 95
HDC Btms 400(MSDW)/3000(HDT) 99+
HDC Btms 2000(MSDW/HDT) 99+

M/U H2 Amine
Feed Experience Separator Liquids
• Distillate/LHDC to HP Stripper
NNF S/U Line Product Qualities
• HDC Btms
• HDT Raffinate (VGO/B.S.) • Vis range 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 10 cSt. to B.S
• VI’s from Grp II 95 VI to Grp III+ 145
• HDT Slack Wax • LN’s Low CCS <1500 cP at -30 C
• Blocked and Broad Cut
S/U – Internal Liquid Recycle

Figure 17 Hydrofinishing (MAXSAT) for Aromatic Reduction and Color Stability

High Activity Catalyst Can

Provide Significant Advantage
Aromatic Saturation Estimate of Equilibrium Saturates
8 100
Kinetic Control 1800
Equilibrium Control 1200
Relative Aromatics

6 Kinetic Control
Equilibrium Control 800
Saturates, Wt-%

4 80 400 psig, H2

0
0 20 40 60 80 60 Increasing Pressure
Relative Temperature
200 240 280 320 360 400
Temperature, °C

38
 TECHNOLOGY

Figure 18 South East Asia (SEA) Lube Complex Includes a Unicracking and MSDW Plant

Naphtha & Diesel

Lubes Stock
Unicracking Lubes
VGO Unconverted
Oil EMRE Lubes
Distillation
Vacuum

Atm
Resid
DAO

Lubes Extract VGO Distillate from Crude

Vaccum Distillate Naphtha & Diesel

Uniflex
Resid Unionfining
Solvent
Deasphalting
Resid (Existing) Vacuum
SDA Pitch to
Pitch Cement Plant

The Alliance has been awarded four projects already, including The objective of this complex is to produce lube base oil and fuel
Lubes and Fuels projects, as listed in Table 2. in blocked out mode. The lube block will process a blend of feed
that contains vacuum gas oil (VGO), 100N wax, 400N wax and
Table 2. Alliance Projects since Summer 2011 BSHVI wax from an existing MEK unit. The quality of the feed
blend for the Unicracking Unit is in Table 3.
= Lubes
l South East Asia - Lubes and Fuel Table 3 Unicracking Unit Feed Properties
l Europe - Group III Plant
Property
= Fuels Gravity, API 19.01
l Central Asia (70 KBD+) Specific Gravity 0.9402
l Russia (30 KBD +) Sulfur, Wt-% 2.88
Nitrogen, Wt-ppm 1030
The Lube projects include a South East Asia (SEA) lube complex Distillation D-1160
project and a European project to make Group III lube IBP, °C 505
basestocks. The SEA project under design is a grass roots project
that includes a Unicracking Unit and a MSDW Unit. 5% 407
50% 497
95% 566
FBP 714

39
TECHNOLOGY

The MSDW unit will process UCO from the Unicracking unit for Figure 20 MIDW Catalyst Operates with
the production of high-quality Group II Base Oils. The primary Excellent Diesel Selectivity
target is to maximize the production of 500N and 100N lube 100
base oils and meet the Group II quality target listed in Table 4. MIDW Operating “Range”

90
Table 4 Lube Product Specifications

150 C+Yield, Wt-%

Product 80
Specifications Test Method 100N 500N
Viscosity @100°C ASTM D-445 4.0 – 4.5 10.2 – 10.8 70
Competing
Viscosity Index ASTM D-2273 100 min 104 min Cracking Technology
60
Pour Point (°C) ASTM D-5950 -15 max -15 max
Noack (Wt-%) ASTM D-5800 - - 50
Flash Point (°C) ASTM D-92 180 min 230 min 0 11 22 33 44 55
Saturates (Wt-%) ASTM D-7419 95 min Cloud Point Reduction, C

Sulfur (wppm) ASTM D-2622 50 max

The value of this additional diesel is quite clear when competing
against dewaxing in an environment where diesel is a key
The other lube project located in Europe will not only make market driver. Figure 21 presents a large unit and compares the
Group III lubes but also includes an MIDW unit to maximize the advantage to the refiner based on the yield difference. The
winter diesel from a Unicracking unit complex. difference was nearly $20 million US dollars /year.
The Alliance projects include hydroisomerization of fuels using Figure 21 EMRE MIDW Economic Impact
the MIDW process. This technology is used when diesel yield • 1900 KMTA Capacity
maximization is desired while achieving low cloud point or CFPP • Diesel to Naphtha differential = $90/MT
and high cetane quality. The technology can be in sweet or sour • 22°C Cloud Point Improvement
operation. This flexibility is commercially demonstrated in EMRE TRADITIONAL
different applications as depicted in Figure 19. MIDW CRACKING
Diesel Yield after HT Wt-% 98 98
Figure 19 Commercial MIDW Applications
Diesel Yield after Wt-% 96 83
Waxy Feed MIDW Low Pour, High Cetane Diesel Benefit vs. Cracking MM$/ year 20.2
Dewaxing
0.3% S - 130 ppm N
Lower Reactor Temperatures In summary the UOP/EMRE Alliance can provide a single
Moderate S, N HDT MIDW
Low Sulfur Distillates source approach to lube and fuels manufacture. We have
H2S, NH3
licensed wide variety of flow schemes to make lubes and will
0.2 – 0.9 % S
30% LCO in feed tailor a solution to meet specific refinery project objectives. Our
Lower Reactor Temperatures
High S, N HDT MIDW
Higher Distillate Yields combined commercial experience is unsurpassed. We were the
first to introduce hydroisomerization to fuels in 1990 and
MVGO - HVGO H2S, Nh3, Distillate continue to be a leader in this area.
1.2% S – 1800 ppm N
Premium Diesel & Kerosene
VGO Feed HC MIDW
Low Pour Point LSHFO References
1.Freedonia World Lubricant Study #2771, www.
freedoniagroup.com
The first Alliance units are of the sweet variety which maximize
yield, cetane quality and achieves very low cloud points. The real About the Authors
advantage of this technology is the improvement on yields Dr. Girish Chitnis is Licencing Director & Timothy Hilbert is
verses conventional catalyst dewaxing (Figure 20). In very Hydroprocessing Manager in Exxon Mobil Research &
northern climates the yield loss is quite substantial for very high Engineering Co., USA.
levels of cloud point reduction.
Dr. Vasant Thakkar is a Senior Fellow, Soumendra Banerjee is
Senior Manager & Jill Meister is Hydroprocessing Product Line
Manager in UOP LLC.<

40