Patent ID: 6949181

Claim:
A catalytic dewaxing process comprising: contacting a lubricating base oil under catalytic dewaxing conditions with a composition made by a) contacting a molecular sieve—binder extrudate, having sorption sites, with an aqueous solution of a corresponding Group VIII metal nitrate salt having a pH of below 8 and in the essential absence of ammonium ions, wherein the molar ratio between the Group VIII metal cations in the solution and the number of sorption sites present in the extrudate is equal to or larger than 1, wherein the binder comprises a silica binder material, wherein the number of sorption sites in the molecular sieve—binder extrudate is reduced prior to the impregnation of the Group VIII metal by means of a dealumination treatment which treatment comprises contacting the molecular sieve—binder extrudate with a solution of ammonium hexafluorosilicate; and wherein the molecular sieve is in its H-form, and b) drying the molecular sieve—binder extrudate obtained from step a) in accordance with an accelerated drying profile by which the temperature of the molecular sieve—binder extrudate obtained from step a) is raised to no more than 300° C. and for a duration of less than 90 minutes prior to the use of the resulting dried, impregnated molecular sieve—binder extrudate, and c) yielding a product having a reduced pour point.