【Ten Years of Great Progress in Chemical Technology】174-2023: Hydroisomerization of coal-based FTO synthesis waxes to produce high-quality lubricants

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This post was last edited by Desert Fish on 2023-7-23 at 09:34. There has been significant development in chemical technology over the past decade; let’s praise the prosperity and strength of modern China. By contributing our ideas, we can create a more lively discussion environment. The forum becomes even better with your participation – everyone is welcome to engage in more discussions here. Be careful with fire as the heat increases in July. --------------------------------------------In May 2021, a team led by Tian Zhijian, a researcher at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, developed a technology for producing high-quality lubricant base oils through the hydrogenation isomerization of coal-based Fischer-Tropsch wax. Pilot production tests were successfully carried out using this technology at a facility in the Baijiantan area of Karamay, Xinjiang. Using domestically produced Fischer-Tropsch wax as raw material, high-quality lubricant base oils were produced in large quantities with high yields. These high-grade lubricant base oils have the potential to fill the gap in China’s market for such products, enabling the country to achieve self-sufficiency in this area. Viscosity index and pour point are usually important indicators for evaluating lubricant base oil products. The higher the viscosity index, the less the product’s viscosity changes with temperature, and the better the stability of its lubricating properties ； The lower the pour point, the better the flow properties of the product at low temperatures, allowing it to function properly in harsh conditions such as extremely cold environments. “In the past, it was difficult to produce base oils with a viscosity index higher than 130 using petroleum-based raw materials; however, coal-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesized waxes, due to their higher wax content, can be used to produce base oils with a viscosity index of up to 150. However, F-T synthesis waxes have high melting points and wide boiling ranges, making them difficult to convert efficiently; it is thus hard to produce lubricant base oils with both a high viscosity index and a low pour point. ”As explained by researchers from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. For a long time, the industry has been exploring new technologies for the efficient conversion of FTO synthesis wax into lubricant base oils. Currently, FTO synthetic waxes are primarily used to produce high-quality gasoline and diesel products through hydrocracking technology. Through years of effort, Tian Zhijian’s team has successively developed high-performance catalysts for the deep hydrogenation isomerization of FTO-synthesized waxes, formulated the hydrogenation isomerization–supplementary refining process for such waxes, and carried out industrial-scale production of the specialized catalysts. This time, domestic Fischer-Tropsch synthesized wax was used as raw material to produce a series of high-quality lubricant base oil products, achieving good results in terms of viscosity index and pour point. Compared with the main lubricant base oil products of categories I and II currently available on the market, these products exhibit better viscosity-temperature properties, thereby playing a greater role in energy conservation, emission reduction, and extending the service life of machinery. In addition to the main product, high-quality lubricant base oils, high-value-added by-products such as aromatic-free solvent oils, drilling fluids, and industrial white oils were also produced this time. Wang Congxin, the lead researcher of this study and a researcher at the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, explained that this new technology further expands the range of products available in the coal chemical industry, providing an important technical solution for China’s coal chemical enterprises to upgrade their nearly 10 million tons of coal-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesized oil per year into products with higher added value. It is reported that this test is the second successful production trial conducted following the experiment in 2019, when the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics collaborated with Xinjiang Karamay Huao Special Oil Products Technology Development Co., Ltd. to produce high-viscosity base oils through the hydrogenation isomerization of naphthenic heavy oil.