Abstract: Methods are provided for predicting the properties of an asphalt fraction that contains two or more asphalt components based on measurements of the viscosity versus temperature profile for the components of the asphalt fraction. The viscosity versus temperature profile for each component can be used to determine characteristic (such as limiting) values for the viscosity and temperature for a component. Based on this ability to determine characteristic values for an asphalt blend based on the properties of individual blend components, appropriate blends of asphalts can be selected in order to arrive at an asphalt blend with desired properties.

Abstract: This disclosure provides low viscosity, low volatility aryl ether compounds represented by the formula: This disclosure also provides processes for producing the aryl ether compounds, lubricating oil basestocks and lubricating oils containing one or more of the aryl ether compounds, and a method for improving one or more of solubility and dispersancy of polar additives and/or sludge in a lubricating oil by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil containing one or more of the aryl ether compounds.

Abstract: This disclosure provides low viscosity, low volatility aryl ether compounds represented by formula (1): and represented by formula (2): wherein R1 is the same or different and is a linear or branched alkyl group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms; R2 is the same or different and is hydrogen or an alkyl group having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms; and n is the same or different and is a value from 0 to 8. This disclosure also provides processes for producing the aryl ether compounds, lubricating oil basestocks and lubricating oils containing one or more of the aryl ether compounds, and a method for improving one or more of solubility and dispersancy of polar additives and/or sludge in a lubricating oil by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil containing one or more of the aryl ether compounds.

Abstract: A process for selective oxidation of dimethyl-1,1?-biphenyl to form methyl-1,1?-biphenyl mono-carboxylic acid(s), comprising contacting a solution of dimethyl-1,1?-biphenyl in acetic acid solvent in the presence of a Co(II) acetate catalyst and air, and optionally adding a co-solvent, or adding sodium or potassium acetate, and oxidizing the dimethyl-1,1?-biphenyl under time and temperature conditions sufficient to form one or more methyl-1,1?-biphenyl mono-carboxylic acid(s). The mono-carboxylic acids are advantageously isolated and esterified to form biphenyl mono-esters for use as plasticizers.

Abstract: Methods and systems producing gasoline boiling range hydrocarbons from light paraffins are disclosed. Such methods may include exposing a paraffin-containing stream to a catalyst in a side riser of a fluid catalytic cracking reactor under effective conditions for dehydrogenating at least a portion of paraffins in the stream into olefins and thereby producing an olefin-containing stream, wherein the paraffin-containing stream comprises greater than 50 wt % isobutane; and alkylating olefins in the olefin-containing stream to produce a product stream comprising an alkylate fraction comprising hydrocarbons boiling between 100° F. and 400° F.

Abstract: A process for separating dimethyl biphenyl (DMBP) isomers, including contacting a mixture of 3,3?-DMBP, 3,4?-DMBP and 4,4?-DMBP in a first solvent with a 12-member ring zeolite exchanged with potassium or barium, or combinations thereof, and adsorbing the 3,3?-DMBP onto the 12-member ring zeolite, such as by passing the mixture through at least one packed bed of the potassium and/or barium exchanged 12-member ring zeolite.

Abstract: A lubricating oil composition that can suppress wear of bearings and the like and scoring of gear teeth surfaces and the like even at low viscosity. A lubricating oil composition that includes a lubricating oil base oil, a sulfur-based extreme pressure agent, and a phosphorus-based extreme pressure agent, wherein the lubricating oil composition is characterized in that: the quantity of active sulfur in the sulfur-based extreme pressure agent is 5-30% by mass; the sulfur-based extreme pressure agent is included in the composition at a quantity of 5-15% by mass relative to the mass of the entire lubricating oil composition; and the phosphorus-based extreme pressure agent is included in the composition at a quantity of 1.5-8% by mass relative to the mass of the entire lubricating oil composition.

Abstract: Fuels and/or fuel blending components can be formed from hydroprocessing of high lift deasphalted oil. The high lift deasphalting can correspond to solvent deasphalting to produce a yield of deasphalted oil of at least 50 wt %, or at least 65 wt %, or at least 75 wt %. The resulting fuels and/or fuel blending components formed by hydroprocessing of the deasphalted oil can have unexpectedly high naphthene content and/or density. Additionally or alternately, the resulting fuels and/or fuel blending components can have a clear and bright appearance.

Abstract: A composition including one or more diester compounds represented by the formula as defined herein. The composition has a viscosity (Kv100) from about 1 cSt to about 10 cSt at 100° C. as determined by ASTM D445, a viscosity index (VI) from about ?100 to about 300 as determined by ASTM D2270, and a Noack volatility of no greater than 50 percent as determined by ASTM D5800. A process for producing the composition, a lubricating oil base stock and lubricating oil containing the composition, and a method for improving one or more of thermal and oxidative stability, solubility and dispersancy of polar additives, deposit control and traction control in a lubricating oil by using as the lubricating oil a formulated oil containing the composition.

Abstract: Described herein are lubricant compositions that include combinations of lubricant additives that are effective at improving the surface finish of a range of manufactured materials and equipment. In particular, friction modifiers and antiwear additives are employed to decrease surface roughness of additive manufactured (AM), e.g., 3D printed, materials and equipment in concert with maximizing energy efficiency.

Abstract: A lubricant composition which is capable of reducing friction, while ensuring anti-wear properties even if the viscosity thereof is decreased. A lubricant composition which contains a lubricant base oil, (A1) a metal salicylate and (B) a molybdenum-based friction regulator, and which is characterized in that: the amount of the component (B) is 500 to 1,500 ppm by mass in terms of the molybdenum concentration [B] in the lubricant composition; the component (A1) is calcium salicylate, magnesium salicylate or a combination thereof; the calcium concentration [Ca] based on the calcium salicylate in the lubricant composition is 0 to 1,800 ppm by mass; the magnesium concentration [Mg] based on the magnesium salicylate in the lubricant composition is 0 to 1,800 ppm by mass; and the total of the calcium concentration [Ca] and the magnesium concentration [Mg] is 200 to 3,000 ppm by mass.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are an apparatus and a method for mixing and/or mulling a sample, the apparatus comprising at least one container made of a flexible material and containing a sample, means for holding the container, and means for impacting the container, wherein the means for holding and the means for impacting are movable relative to each other, and wherein the means for holding, the means for impacting, and the container are arranged such that the means for impacting and the container can repeatedly collide, whereby an energy of collision can be imparted to the sample, thereby mixing and/or mulling the sample. Also disclosed is an assembly for performing high throughput experiments including the apparatus for mixing and/or mulling a sample and an extruder configured to receive a sample weighing less than 100 grams.

Abstract: A novel metal organic framework, EMM-42, is described having the structure of UiO-66 and comprising bisphosphonate linking ligands. EMM-42 has acid activity and is useful as a catalyst in olefin isomerization. Also disclosed is a process of making metal organic frameworks, such as EMM-42, by heterogeneous ligand exchange, in which linking ligands having a first bonding functionality in a host metal organic framework are exchanged with linking ligands having a second different bonding functionality in the framework.

Abstract: Methods are provided for producing Group II base stocks having high viscosity and also having one or more properties indicative of a high quality base stock. The resulting Group II base stocks can have a viscosity at 100° C. and/or a viscosity at 40° C. that is greater than the corresponding viscosity for a conventional Group II base stock. Additionally, the resulting Group II base stocks can have one or more properties that are indicative of a high quality base stock.

Abstract: Methods are provided for producing Group I base stocks having high viscosity and also having one or more properties indicative of a high quality base stock. The resulting Group I base stocks can have a viscosity at 100° C. and/or a viscosity at 40° C. that is greater than the corresponding viscosity for a conventional Group I bright stock formed by solvent processing. Additionally, the resulting Group I base stocks can have one or more properties that are indicative of a high quality base stock.

Abstract: A catalyst system comprising a combination of: 1) an activator; 2) one or more metallocene catalyst compounds; 3) a support comprising an organosilica material, which may be a mesoporous organosilica material. The organosilica material may be a polymer of at least one monomer of Formula [Z1OZ2SiCH2]3 (I), where Z1 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-C4 alkyl group, or a bond to a silicon atom of another monomer and Z2 represents a hydroxyl group, a C1-C4 alkoxy group, a C1-C6 alkyl group, or an oxygen atom bonded to a silicon atom of another monomer. This invention further relates to processes to polymerize olefins comprising contacting one or more olefins with the above catalyst system.

Abstract: Methods are provided for producing Group III base stocks having high viscosity and also having one or more properties indicative of a high quality base stock. The resulting Group III base stocks can have a viscosity at 100° C. and/or a viscosity at 40° C. that is greater than the corresponding viscosity for a conventional Group III base stock. Additionally, the resulting Group III base stocks can have one or more properties that are indicative of a high quality base stock.

Abstract: A process for removing acid gases from a fluid stream, wherein the fluid stream is contacted with an absorbent comprising a compound of the general formula (I), wherein R1 and R2 are independently C1-C4-alkyl; R3 is selected from hydrogen and C1-C4-alkyl, R4, R5 and R6 are independently selected from hydrogen and C1-C4-alkyl; x and y are integers from 2 to 4 and z is an integer from 1 to 3, to obtain a treated fluid stream and a laden absorbent. The process allows for a high cyclic capacity while the compounds of the absorbent have a reduced tendency to foaming and low volatility.

Abstract: A process for selective oxidation of dimethyl-1,1?-biphenyl(s) to form methyl-1,1?-biphenyl mono-carboxylic acid(s), which can be esterified to form plasticizers, comprising contacting a solution of dimethyl-1,1?-biphenyl(s) in acetic acid in the presence of an oxidation catalyst and air under time and temperature conditions sufficient to oxidize the dimethyl-1,1?-biphenyl(s) into one or more methyl-1,1?-biphenyl mono-carboxylic acid(s) products, conducting at least one of (i) adding an antisolvent, or (ii) optimizing a total conversion of dimethyl-1,1?-biphenyl(s) by oxidation based upon a molar ratio of dimethyl-1,1?-biphenyl isomers, or (iii) precipitating the methyl-1,1?-biphenyl mono-carboxylic acid(s) products by lowering the temperature, or (iv) decreasing the oxidation reaction temperature to enhance conversion of aldehydes over methyl functional groups, so as to limit over-oxidation of the dimethyl-1,1?-biphenyl(s), wherein the oxidation reaction is conducted in the absence of bromide-containing cata

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for block operation during lubricant and/or fuels production from deasphalted oil. During “block” operation, a deasphalted oil and/or the hydroprocessed effluent from an initial processing stage can be split into a plurality of fractions. The fractions can correspond, for example, to feed fractions suitable for forming a light neutral fraction, a heavy neutral fraction, and a bright stock fraction, or the plurality of fractions can correspond to any other convenient split into separate fractions. The plurality of separate fractions can then be processed separately in the process train (or in the sweet portion of the process train) for forming fuels and/or lubricant base stocks. The separate processing can allow for selection of conditions for forming lubricant fractions, such as bright stock fractions, that have a cloud point that is lower than the pour point.