Dewaxing process

Abstract: Wax-containing hydrocarbon oils are dewaxed by precipitation and separation of the wax from the oil, wherein the precipitation is carried out in the presence of: a) linear polymers of carbon monoxide with one or more olefins which consist at least partly of α-olefins with at least 10 carbon atoms per molecule (C₁₀+ α-olefins), in which polymers the units from carbon monoxide on the one hand and the units from the olefins on the other hand are present in a substantially alternating arrangement, and if desired additionally b) polymers from one or more olefinically unsaturated compounds which consist at least partly of alkyl acrylates or alkyl methacrylates with at least 8 carbon atoms in the alkyl group (C₈+ alkyl esters).

Description: The invention relates to a process for dewaxing a wax-containing hydrocarbon oil. Dewaxing is an important process which is applied in the refining of hydrocarbon oils, since the removal of the wax leads to an oil with a considerably improved pour point. The process is usually carried out by cooling the oil to a temperature that is low enough to cause the wax to precipitate and then removing the wax from the oil by filtration. Usually, solvents are added to the oil which can dissolve the oil and precipitate the wax. The precipitated wax has a tendency to block the filter during the filtration. As a consequence, the filtration rate is substantially reduced and the quantity of oil remaining behind in the filter cake increases considerably. These difficulties can be avoided by carrying out the dewaxing in the presence of certain polymers, which are referred to as dewaxing aids. EP-A-160754 and US-A-3806442 provide processes in which dewaxing aids are used which are polymers from one or more olefinically unsaturated compounds which consist at least partly of alkyl acrylates or alkyl methacrylates with at least 8 carbon atoms in the alkyl group (referred to hereinafter as C₈+ alkyl esters). Though these polymers are satisfactory, there always is a need for better and more effective products. Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide more suitable dewaxing aids. GB-A-1272614 relates to the use of random, branched copolymers of carbon monoxide and α-olefins as wax crystal modifiers, in particular their use as pour point depressing additives. GB-A-1272614 mentions briefly the use of the polymers as dewaxing aids. In an investigation by the applicant into the application of polymers as dewaxing aids, a class of polymers was found, which polymers were found to be extremely well suited for this purpose. On comparing the behaviour of these polymers with that of the C₈+ alkyl ester polymers, it can be seen that in a number of cases the previously mentioned polymers have a higher activity. This means that in comparison with the C₈+ alkyl ester polymers, in a number of cases the polymers investigated by the applicant for this purpose give, at an equal concentration, a greater increase in the filtration rate and/or a greater reduction in the quantity of oil remaining behind in the filter cake, or that a given increase in the filtration rate and/or reduction in the quantity of oil remaining behind in the filter cake can be obtained at a lower concentration. The polymers in question are linear polymers of carbon monoxide with one or more olefins which consist at least partly of α-olefins with at least 10 carbon atoms per molecule (hereinafter referred to as C₁₀+ α-olefins), in which polymers the units from carbon monoxide on the one hand and the units from the olefins on the other hand are present in an alternating arrangement. In the investigation by the applicant into the application of polymers as dewaxing aids, it was further found that mixtures of polymers selected from each of the two above-mentioned classes are also very suitable for use as dewaxing aids. The present patent application therefore relates to a dewaxing process in which a wax-containing hydrocarbon oil is dewaxed by precipitation of the wax and separation of the wax from the oil and in which the precipitation of the wax is carried out in the presence of: a) linear polymers of carbon monoxide with one or more olefins which consist at least partly of C₁₀+ α-olefins, in which polymers the units from carbon monoxide on the one hand and the units from the olefins on the other hand are present in an alternating arrangement, and if desired additionally b) polymers from one or more olefinically unsaturated compounds which consist at least partly of C₈+ alkyl esters. The process of the invention can in principle be applied to dewax any wax-containing hydrocarbon oil. The process is preferably applied to dewax lubricating oils, and in particular to dewax waxy raffinates obtained from lubricating oil fractions by subjecting these to aromatic extraction. As pointed out above, the dewaxing can very suitably be carried out by cooling the oil in the presence of a dewaxing solvent. Examples of solvents which can be used for this purpose are low molecular weight hydrocarbons such as ethane, propane, butane and isobutane, polar solvents such as acetone, methyl ethyl ketone, propanol, butanol and pentanol, diethyl ether, diisopropyl ether, ethylene dichloride and ethylene trichloride, as well as mixtures of the aforementioned polar solvents with an aromatic solvent such as benzene or toluene. As a dewaxing solvent, a mixture of methyl ethyl ketone and toluene is preferred, in particular such a mixture in which both components are present in approximately equal quantities. When using a dewaxing solvent, preferably just enough of it is used for the oil to remain in solution at the dewaxing temperature while as little wax as possible dissolves. The solvent/oil ratio to be used depends, amongst other things, on the wax content of the oil, the viscosity of the oil, the temperature and other conditions applied during the dewaxing. There is preference for 1 to 10 volumes, and in particular 2 to 4 volumes, of solvent per volume of wax-containing oil. The dewaxing in the presence of a solvent can be carried out under application of single or multiple dilution. If the dewaxing is carried out using single dilution, the dewaxing takes place by gradually cooling to the dewaxing temperature a mixture of the oil to be dewaxed and the total quantity of solvent intended for the dewaxing, which mixture is at an elevated temperature. If the dewaxing is carried out using multiple dilution, the dewaxing takes place by gradually cooling to a temperature above the dewaxing temperature a mixture of the oil to be dewaxed and a part of the total quantity of solvent intended for the dewaxing, which mixture is at an elevated temperature, and then again adding a part of the total quantity of solvent intended for the dewaxing and again cooling and, if desired, repeating these steps one or more times until all the solvent has been added and the dewaxing temperature has been reached. The dewaxing in the presence of a solvent is preferably carried out using a solvent/oil mixture at a temperature of 45-90 °C. Suitable dewaxing temperatures lie between -10 and -45 °C. The molecular weight of the polymers which are used as dewaxing aids in the process of the invention have a weight average molecular weight ( M w ) of between 10³ and 10⁶ and in particular between 10⁴ and 10⁶. Both the C₁₀+ α-olefins which are used as monomers in the preparation of the polymers mentioned under a) and the alkyl groups present in the C₈+ alkyl esters which are used in the preparation of the polymers mentioned under b) are preferably unbranched. Both the C₁₀+ α-olefins and the alkyl groups present in the C₈+ alkyl esters preferably contain fewer than 40 and in particular fewer than 30 carbon atoms. The preference for a particular molecular weight of the polymers and for a particular number of carbon atoms in the C₁₀+ α-olefins and in the alkyl groups of the C₈+ alkyl esters used as monomers in the preparation of the polymers is mainly determined by the nature of the waxes present in the hydrocarbon oil. In the preparation of the polymers mentioned under a), in addition to C₁₀+ α-olefins it is also possible to use olefins with fewer than 10 carbon atoms, such as ethene, propene, butene-1 and cyclopentene. Preferably only C₁₀+ α-olefins are used as olefins in the preparation of the polymers mentioned under a). The monomer mixture from which the polymers mentioned under a) are prepared can in addition to carbon monoxide contain either one or more C₁₀+ α-olefins. An example of a copolymer with which, according to the invention, favourable results are obtained is a carbon monoxide/-1-octadecene copolymer. Polymers of carbon monoxide with a mixture of unbranched α-olefins with 12-18 or 20-24 carbon atoms per molecule were also found to be very suitable for the present purpose. As pointed out above, as regards the polymers mentioned under a) there is preference for polymers on the basis of carbon monoxide with one or more C₁₀+ α-olefins, which polymers have an M w of more than 10⁴. In a recent investigation by the applicant into these polymers, an attractive method of preparation was found. This method consists essentially of contacting the monomers at elevated temperature and pressure and in the presence of a diluent consisting for more than 90 %v of an aprotic liquid with a catalyst composition containing a Group VIII metal and a phosphorus bidentate ligand having the general formula (R¹R²P)₂R where R¹ and R² represent identical or different optionally polar substituted aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups and R is a divalent organic bridge group which contains at least two carbon atoms in the bridge connecting the two phosphorus atoms. There is preference for the use of catalyst compositions which per g.atom Group VIII metal contain 0.75-1.5 mol of a phosphorus bidentate ligand in which the groups R¹ and R² are identical alkyl groups with not more than 6 carbon atoms and which, moreover, per g.atom Group VIII metal contain 2-50 mol of an anion of an acid with a pKa of less than 2 and if desired 10-1000 mol of an organic oxidizing agent. There is particular preference for catalyst compositions based on palladium acetate, 1,3-bis(di-n-butylphosphino)propane, 1,4-naphthoquinone and trifluoroacetic acid or nickel perchlorate. The preparation of the polymers is preferably carried out at a temperature of 30-130 °C, a pressure of 5-100 bar and a molar ratio of the olefins to carbon monoxide of 5:1 to 1:5 and using a quantity of catalyst composition which per mol of olefin to be polymerized contains 10⁻⁶ to 10⁻³ g.atom Group VIII metal. The polymerization is preferably carried out in a diluent that contains a small quantity of a protic liquid. A very suitable diluent for the present polymerization is a mixture of tetrahydrofuran and methanol. In the preparation of the polymers mentioned under b), in addition to C₈+ alkyl esters, it is also possible to use other olefinically unsaturated compounds, such as alkyl acrylates and alkyl methacrylates with fewer than 8 carbon atoms in the alkyl group, olefinically unsaturated aromatic compounds such as styrene and olefinically unsaturated heterocyclic compounds such as vinyl pyridines. The monomer mixture from which the polymers mentioned under b) are prepared can contain either one or more C₈+ alkyl esters. An example which can be given of a terpolymer with which favourable results were obtained according to the invention is an octadecyl acrylate/eicosyl acrylate/docosyl acrylate terpolymer. An example of a quaterpolymer suitable for the present purpose is a methyl acrylate/octadecyl acrylate/eicosyl acrylate/docosyl acrylate quaterpolymer. In the dewaxing according to the invention, either one or more polymers mentioned under a) can be used, if desired in combination with one or more polymers mentioned under b). The quantity of polymer which according to the invention is incorporated in the hydrocarbon oil to be dewaxed preferably amounts to 1-10,000 and in particular 10-1000 mg per kg hydrocarbon oil. If in the dewaxing according to the invention use is made of a polymer mixture in which both the polymers mentioned under a) and the polymers mentioned under b) are present, there is preference for mixtures containing 1-90 %w and more in particular 10-75 %w of the polymers mentioned under a). The invention will now be explained with reference to the following examples: Example 1 A carbon monoxide/1-octadecene copolymer was prepared as follows. Into a stirred autoclave with a capacity of 250 ml which contained 100 ml tetrahydrofuran and 40 g 1-octadecene in a nitrogen atmosphere a catalyst solution was introduced containing: 5 ml methanol, 0.1 mmol palladium acetate, 0.5 mmol nickel perchlorate, 0.12 mmol 1,3-bis(di-n-butylphosphino)propane, and 6 mmol 1,4-naphthoquinone. After forcing in carbon monoxide to a pressure of 40 bar, the contents of the autoclave were brought to 50 °C. After 30 hours the polymerization was terminated by cooling the reaction mixture to room temperature and releasing the pressure. After adding acetone to the reaction mixture, the polymer was filtered off, washed with acetone and dried. 40 g copolymer was obtained with an M w of 20,300. Example 2 A polymer of carbon monoxide with a mixture of linear α-olefins with 20-24 carbon atoms per molecule was prepared in substantially the same way as the carbon monoxide/1-octadecene copolymer in example 1, but with the following differences: a) the autoclave contained 40 g of a mixture of linear α-olefins with 20-24 carbon atoms per molecule instead of 1-octadecene, b) carbon monoxide was forced into the autoclave to a pressure of 70 bar instead of 40 bar, and c) the reaction time was 15 hours instead of 30 hours. 38 g polymer was obtained with an M w of 22,700. Example 3 A polymer of carbon monoxide with a mixture of linear α-olefins with 12-18 carbon atoms per molecule was prepared in substantially the same way as the carbon monoxide/1-octadecene copolymer in example 1, but with the following differences: a) the autoclave contained 40 g of a mixture of linear α-olefins with 12-18 carbon atoms per molecule instead of 1-octadecene, b) the reaction time was 15 hours instead of 30 hours. 30 g polymer was obtained with an M w of 23,000. Example 4 The following polymers were tested as dewaxing aids in the dewaxing of two distillate lubricating oils (A and B). Oil A was a waxy raffinate with a viscosity index of 130 and oil B was a waxy raffinate with a viscosity index of 160. Additive 1: The copolymer prepared according to example 1. Additive 2: The polymer prepared according to example 2. Additive 3: The polymer prepared according to example 3. Additive 4: A methyl acrylate/octadecyl acrylate/eicosyl acrylate/docosyl acrylate quaterpolymer with an M w of 660,000. Additive 5: An octadecyl acrylate/eicosyl acrylate/docosyl acrylate terpolymer with an M w of 500,000. The polymers were introduced into the oils in the form of a solution of 50 %w solids in toluene. The results of the experiments are tabulated below. The additives are expressed in mg polymer solution per kg wax-containing oil. Experiment 1 In this experiment oil A was dewaxed using single dilution. This consisted of adding to a sample of oil A heated to 60 °C a mixture, also at 60 °C, of equal parts by volume of methyl ethyl ketone and toluene, 3 parts by weight of the mixture being added per part by weight of oil. The mixture thus obtained was cooled at a rate of 3 °C per minute to -20 °C and filtered at this temperature. Experiment 2 This experiment was carried out in substantially the same way as experiment 1, but with the difference that, before adding the solvent, 600 mg/kg of a polymer solution containing additive 4 was incorporated in the warm oil. Experiment 3 This experiment was carried out in substantially the same way as experiment 1, but with the difference that, before adding the solvent, 600 mg/kg of a polymer solution containing additive 1 was incorporated in the warm oil. Experiment 4 This experiment was carried out in substantially the same way as experiment 1, but with the differences that the mixture was cooled to -5 °C instead of to -20 °C and that the filtration was also carried out at -5 °C. Experiment 5 This experiment was carried out in substantially the same way as experiment 1, but with the following differences: a) prior to the addition of the solvent, 200 mg/kg of a polymer solution containing additive 5 was incorporated in the warm oil, and b) the mixture was cooled to -5 °C instead of to -20 °C and the filtration was also carried out at -5 °C. Experiment 6 This experiment was carried out in substantially the same way as experiment 1, but with the following differences: a) prior to the addition of the solvent, 200 mg/kg of a polymer solution containing additives 1 and 5 in a weight ratio of 1:4 was incorporated in the warm oil, and b) the mixture was cooled to -5 °C instead of to -20 °C and the filtration was also carried out at -5 °C. Experiment 7 This experiment was carried out in substantially the same way as experiment 1, but with the difference that the dewaxing was applied to oil B instead of to oil A. Experiment 8 This experiment was carried out in substantially the same way as experiment 1, but with the following differences: a) the dewaxing was applied to oil B instead of to oil A, and b) prior to the addition of the solvent, 400 mg/kg of a polymer solution containing additive 2 was incorporated in the warm oil. Experiment 9 This experiment was carried out in substantially the same way as experiment 1, but with the following differences: a) the dewaxing was applied to oil B instead of to oil A, and b) prior to the addition of the solvent, 400 mg/kg of a polymer solution containing additives 2 and 5 in a weight ratio of 1:9 was incorporated in the warm oil. Experiment 10 This experiment was carried out in substantially the same way as experiment 1, but with the following differences: a) the dewaxing was applied to oil B instead of to oil A, and b) prior to the addition of the solvent, 400 mg/kg of a polymer solution containing additives 3 and 5 in a weight ratio of 1:9 was incorporated in the warm oil. Experiment 11 In this experiment oil A was dewaxed using multiple dilution. This consisted of adding to a sample of oil A heated to 65 °C a first portion of a mixture, also at 65 °C, of 55 parts by volume of methyl ethyl ketone and 45 parts by volume of toluene, 1 part by weight of solvent being added per 5 parts by weight of oil. The mixture thus obtained was cooled at a rate of 4 °C per minute to 40 °C. Subsequently, a second portion of the solvent, also brought to 40 °C, was added to the mixture in a quantity of 1 part by weight of solvent per 5 parts by weight of oil. The mixture thus obtained was cooled at a rate of 4 °C per minute to -5 °C. Subsequently, a third portion of the solvent, also cooled to -5 °C, was added to the mixture in a quantity of 1 part by weight of solvent per 5 parts by weight of oil. The mixture thus obtained was cooled at a rate of 4 °C per minute to -15 °C. Subsequently, a fourth portion of the solvent, also cooled to -15 °C, was added to the mixture in a quantity of 1 part by weight of solvent per 1 part by weight of oil. Finally, the mixture thus obtained was cooled at a rate of 4 °C per minute to -17 °C and filtered at this temperature. Experiment 12 This experiment was carried out in substantially the same way as experiment 11, but with the difference that, before the first addition of the solvent, 200 mg/kg of a polymer solution containing additive 5 was incorporated in the warm oil. Experiment 13 This experiment was carried out in substantially the same way as experiment 11, but with the difference that, before the first addition of the solvent, 200 mg/kg of a polymer solution containing additives 1 and 5 in a weight ratio of 1:4 was incorporated in the warm oil. Results of the dewaxing experiments Experiment No. Oil Filtration temperature °C Additive No. Filtration rate g/(sec.m²) Oil in filter cake %w 1 A -20 - 86 64 2 A -20 4 90 61 3 A -20 1 106 60 4 A - 5 - 175 60 5 A - 5 5 169 54 6 A - 5 1+5 196 54 7 B -20 - 227 79 8 B -20 2 234 76 9 B -20 2+5 242 75 10 B -20 3+5 223 74 11 A -17 - 26 71 12 A -17 5 25 62 13 A -17 1+5 23 60 Of the experiments 1-13 in example 4, experiments 3, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 13 are in accordance with the invention. In these experiments the dewaxing was carried out in the presence of alternating CO/C₁₀+ α-olefin polymers (exp. 3 and 8) or in the presence of a mixture of these polymers with C₈+ alkyl ester polymers (exp. 6, 9, 10 and 13). Examples 1-3, as well as experiments 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 11 and 12 of example 4 fall outside the scope of the invention. They are included in the patent application for comparison. Examples 1-3 relate to the preparation of polymers which were used as additives in example 4. No dewaxing aid was used in experiments 1, 4, 7 and 11. In experiments 2, 5 and 12 the dewaxing was carried out in the presence of the C₈+ alkyl ester polymers, known for such a purpose, as dewaxing aid. According to experiment 2, the application of additive 4 leads to both an increase in the filtration rate and a reduction in the oil content of the filter cake. Experiment 3 demonstrates that this is also the case when an additive according to the invention is applied, but to a greater extent. According to experiment 5, the application of additive 5 leads to a reduction in the oil content of the filter cake, but this is accompanied by a reduction in the filtration rate. Experiment 6 demonstrates that the same reduction in the oil content of the filter cake results if an additive mixture according to the invention is applied, but this is now accompanied by an increase in the filtration rate. According to experiment 8, the application of an additive according to the invention leads to both an increase in the filtration rate and a decrease in the oil content of the filter cake. Experiment 9 demonstrates that this is also the case when an additive mixture according to the invention is applied, but to a greater extent. According to experiment 10, an additive mixture according to the invention leads to a reduction in the oil content of the filter cake. This is, however, accompanied by a slight decrease in the filtration rate. According to experiment 12, the application of additive 5 leads to a sharp reduction in the oil content of the filter cake. This is, however, accompanied by a slight decrease in the filtration rate. Experiment 13 demonstrates that a greater decrease in the oil content of the filter cake can be obtained by using an additive mixture according to the invention. The previously observed decrease in the filtration rate occurs to a greater degree in this case. It was established by ¹³C-NMR analysis that the polymers prepared according to examples 1-3 were built up of linear chains in which the units from carbon monoxide on the one hand and the units from the C₁₀+ α-olefins on the other hand occurred in an alternating arrangement. In the polymers prepared from monomer mixtures containing more C₁₀+ α-olefins, the units from the various C₁₀+ α-olefins occurred in a random order relative to one another.

Claims: Dewaxing process, characterized in that a wax-containing hydrocarbon oil is dewaxed by precipitation of the wax and separation of the wax from the oil and that the precipitation of the wax is carried out in the presence of linear polymers of carbon monoxide with one or more olefins which consist at least partly of α-olefins with at least 10 carbon atoms per molecule (C₁₀+ α-olefins), in which polymers the units from carbon monoxide on the one hand and the units from the olefins on the other hand are present in an alternating arrangement, and which polymers have a weight average molecular weight ( M w ) of between 10³ and 10⁶. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the hydrocarbon oil is a lubricating oil, in particular a waxy raffinate obtained from lubricating oil fractions. Process according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the dewaxing is carried out in the presence of a dewaxing solvent, which is used in a quantity of 1-10 volumes per volume wax-containing oil. Process according to one or more of claims 1-3, characterized in that the polymers have a weight average molecular weight ( M w ), of between 10⁴ and 10⁶. Process according to one or more of claims 1-4, characterized in that the C₁₀+ α-olefins which are used in the preparation of the polymers of carbon monoxide are unbranched and contain fewer than 40 carbon atoms. Process according to one or more of claims 1-5, characterized in that the polymers of carbon monoxide are selected from carbon monoxide/1-octadecene copolymers and polymers of carbon monoxide with a mixture of unbranched α-olefins with 12-18 or 20-24 carbon atoms per molecule. Process according to one or more of claims 1-5, characterized in that the polymers of carbon monoxide are based on carbon monoxide and one or more C₁₀+ α-olefins, which polymers have an M w of more than 10⁴ and which polymers are obtainable by contacting the monomers at elevated temperature and pressure and in the presence of a diluent consisting for more than 90 %v of an aprotic liquid with a catalyst composition containing a Group VIII metal and a phosphorus bidentate ligand with the general formula (R¹R²P)₂R where R¹ and R² represent identical or different optionally polar substituted aliphatic hydrocarbyl groups and R is a divalent organic bridge group containing at least two carbon atoms in the bridge connecting the two phosphorus atoms. Process according to one or more of claims 1-7, characterized in that the precipitation of the wax is carried out in the additional presence of polymers from one or more olefinically unsaturated compounds which consist at least partly of alkyl acrylates or alkyl methacrylates with at least 8 carbon atoms in the alkyl group (C₈+ alkyl esters) which polymers have a weight average molecular weight ( M w ) of between 10³ and 10⁶. Process according to claim 8, characterized in that the alkyl groups present in the C₈+ alkyl esters are unbranched and contain fewer than 40 carbon atoms. Process according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the polymers, which consist at least partly of alkyl acrylates or alkyl methacrylates are selected from octadecyl acrylate/eicosyl acrylate/docosyl acrylate terpolymers and methyl acrylate/octadecyl acrylate/eicosyl acrylate/docosyl acrylate quaterpolymers. Process according to one or more of claims 8-10, characterized in that a mixture of polymers of carbon monoxide and polymers which consist at least partly of alkyl acrylates or alkyl methacrylates is used, which mixture contains 1-90 %w of the polymers of carbon monoxide. Process according to one or more of claims 1-11, characterized in that 1-10,000 mg polymer per kg hydrocarbon oil is used.

Inventors: BRAAMS JOHANNES FRANCISCUS HEN, REYNHOUT MARINUS JOHANNES, BRAAMS, JOHANNES FRANCISCUS HENDRIKUS, REYNHOUT, MARINUS JOHANNES
Applicants: SHELL INT RESEARCH, SHELL INTERNATIONALE RESEARCH MAATSCHAPPIJ B.V.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: C10G73
IPC codes: C10G73