Return to Japanese Patent Table of Contents JP7228876 Abstract PURPOSE: To provide a preparation process for a lubricating base oil having an extremely high viscosity index. CONSTITUTION: A process for the preparation of a lubricating base oil comprises subjecting a waxy raffinate to a pour point reducing treatment and recovering lubricating base oil therefrom, which waxy raffinate has been prepared by contacting a hydrocarbon product with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroconversion catalyst, comprising a catalytically active metal having hydrogenation/dehydrogenation activity supported on a refractory oxide carrier, under conditions such that hydrocracking and hydroisomerisation of the hydrocarbon product occur to yield the waxy raffinate, wherein the hydrocarbon product has been prepared by (a) contacting a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen with a hydrocarbon synthesis catalyst at elevated temperature and pressure to prepare a substantially paraffinic hydrocarbon wax, and (b) contacting the hydrocarbon wax so-obtained with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst under conditions such that substantially no isomerisation or hydrocracking of the hydrocarbon wax occurs to yield the hydrocarbon product. |