CATALYTIC DEWAXING PROCESS AND CATALYST COMPOSITION

摘要

Process for the catalytic dewaxing of hydrocarbon oil feed comprising waxy molecules, which process comprises the steps of: (a) contacting the feed under catalytic dewaxing conditions with a catalyst composition comprising a molecular sieve containing covalently bound alumina moieties in its framework and having pores with a diameter in the range of from 0.35 to 0.80 nm, and (b) recovering a product having a reduced pour point, wherein the molecular sieve has been modified to reduce the mole percentage of alumina. Step (a) can be divided into two steps: a first shape selective isomerisation step (a1) and a second selective cracking step (a2). At least in step (a2) a catalyst comprising a modified molecular sieve as described above is used. Catalyst composition comprising a hydrogenation component supported on a carrier comprising a molecular sieve having pores with a diameter in the range of from 0.35 to 0.80 nm and containing covalently bound alumina moieties in its framework, which molecular sieve has been modified to reduce the mole percentage of alumina. Catalyst composition comprising dealuminated ferrierite crystallites, which composition is free of any hydrogenation component.