Abstract: Systems and methods for testing an engine lubricant are provided. The system includes a heated block having at least one cavity therein, at least one test cylinder receiving the engine lubricant therein, and at least one heated test piston selectively disposable into the engine lubricant of the test cylinder whereby deposits are formable on the test piston. The test cylinder is positionable in the cavity of the heated block and heatable thereby. Taxi oils and/or gases may be added to facilitate testing.

Abstract: A mixture of sulfates is made by dimerizing one or more even numbered alpha olefins to produce one or more vinylidenes; hydroformylating the vinylidene(s) to produce a mixture of alcohols; and sulfating the mixture of alcohols to form alcohol sulfates. The sulfates are useful in laundry detergents and other surfactants.

Abstract: A method for assessing a corrosion inhibitor in a coolant, comprises providing a test kit comprising a first chamber containing an acid buffer and a solvent immiscible therein and a second chamber containing an indicator, the second chamber being in fluid communication with the first chamber and being configured such that retraction of the second chamber draws fluid into the first chamber and advancement forces fluid into the second chamber; drawing a coolant sample into the first chamber; contacting the coolant sample with the acid buffer and solvent in the first chamber and extracting the corrosion inhibitor into the solvent; allowing the solvent and buffer to separate in the first chamber; forcing a portion of the separated solvent into the second chamber; contacting the separated solvent with the indicator in the second chamber, and obtaining a visual indication of the presence of corrosion inhibitor in the coolant sample.

Abstract: Processes for the production of an alcohol, esters and aliphatic hydrocarbons are provided. In one embodiment, a process for the production of an alcohol comprises: oligomerizing an olefin or a mixture of olefins having the structural formula Cn-2H2n-3—CH?CH2, wherein n is an integer from 4 to 22, in the presence of an oligomerization catalyst, so as to form a vinylidene containing olefin oligomer; hydroformylating the vinylidene containing olefin oligomer in the presence of a hydroformylation catalyst so as to form a hydroformylated olefin oligomer; and dimerizing the hydroformylated olefin oligomer by means of a Guerbet reaction so as to form the alcohol.

Abstract: Systems and methods for testing an engine lubricant are provided. The system includes a heated block having at least one cavity therein, at least one test cylinder receiving the engine lubricant therein, and at least one heated test piston selectively disposable into the engine lubricant of the test cylinder whereby deposits are formable on the test piston. The test cylinder is positionable in the cavity of the heated block and heatable thereby. Taxi oils and/or gases may be added to facilitate testing.

Abstract: Systems and methods for testing an engine lubricant are provided. The system includes a test assembly rotatably supportable on a platform. The test assembly includes a pair of spaced apart blocks and at least one test cylinder. The blocks include a support block and a test block. The support block has at least one cavity therein. The test block has a heat source applying heat to a test surface thereof. The test cylinder has the engine lubricant therein, and a closed end and an open end opposite thereto. The closed end is positionable in the cavity of the support block. The open end is positionable adjacent the test surface of the test block. The test cylinder is rotatable between a contact position and a non-contact position by the rotating frame such that the engine lubricant is selectively contactable with the test surface whereby deposits form on the test surface.

Abstract: Systems and methods for testing an engine lubricant are provided. The system includes a tilting platform selectively movable between tilt angles and at least one test tray. The tilting platform includes a heated block with a heat source. The test tray has the engine lubricant therein. The test tray also has a heated portion and an unheated portion. The test tray is tiltably positionable on the tilting platform with the heated portion heatable by the heated block whereby the engine lubricant is selectively positionable about the heated and unheated portions of the test tray.

Abstract: An oligomer of alpha olefin is produced in a three step process comprising 1) oligomerization to a vinylidene, 2) hydroformylation to a primary alcohol, and 3) dimerization of the alcohol. The final product can be hydrogenated to form a branched alkane with improved lubricating oil properties.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a synthetic predominantly single carbon number hydrocarbon fluid comprises the steps of: contacting an alpha olefin having a carbon number of 4 to 30 with a single site catalyst under conditions effective to produce reactive hydrocarbon oligomers that contain reactive double bonds and comprising predominantly dimers, trimers, and tetramers wherein at least 10 weight percent of such reactive hydrocarbon oligomers at least one of trimers and tetramers; separating at least one of said trimers and tetramers in said reactive hydrocarbon oligomers; dimerizing said separated one of said trimers tetramers by contacting said separated one of said trimers or tetramers with a dimerization catalyst thereby producing an unsaturated synthetic hydrocarbon fluid; and contacting said unsaturated synthetic hydrocarbon fluid with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst thereby producing a synthetic hydrocarbon fluid having predominantly single carbon number.

Abstract: A method for assessing a corrosion inhibitor in a coolant, comprises providing a test kit comprising a first chamber containing an acid buffer and a solvent immiscible therein and a second chamber containing an indicator, the second chamber being in fluid communication with the first chamber and being configured such that retraction of the second chamber draws fluid into the first chamber and advancement forces fluid into the second chamber; drawing a coolant sample into the first chamber; contacting the coolant sample with the acid buffer and solvent in the first chamber and extracting the corrosion inhibitor into the solvent; allowing the solvent and buffer to separate in the first chamber; forcing a portion of the separated solvent into the second chamber; contacting the separated solvent with the indicator in the second chamber, and obtaining a visual indication of the presence of corrosion inhibitor in the coolant sample.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of a synthetic predominantly single carbon number hydrocarbon fluid comprises the steps of: contacting an alpha olefin having a carbon number of 4 to 30 with a single site catalyst under conditions effective to produce reactive hydrocarbon oligomers that contain reactive double bonds and comprising predominantly dimers, trimers, and tetramers wherein at least 10 weight percent of such reactive hydrocarbon oligomers at least one of trimers and tetramers; separating at least one of said trimers and tetramers in said reactive hydrocarbon oligomers; dimerizing said separated one of said trimers tetramers by contacting said separated one of said trimers or tetramers with a dimerization catalyst thereby producing an unsaturated synthetic hydrocarbon fluid; and contacting said unsaturated synthetic hydrocarbon fluid with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst thereby producing a synthetic hydrocarbon fluid having predominantly single carbon number.

Abstract: An oligomer of alpha olefin is produced in a three step process comprising 1) oligomerization to a vinylidene, 2) hydroformylation to a primary alcohol, and 3) dimerization of the alcohol. The final product can be hydrogenated to form a branched alkane with improved lubricating oil properties.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a low-base number calcium sulfonate that is essentially chloride free. The process involves preparing a sulfonic acid solution by adding a solvent to a sulfonic acid, optionally removing dissolved or entrained SO2 or SO3, mixing the solution with a specific amount of water and calcium hydroxide, heating the mixture, separating out excess calcium hydroxide from the mixture, removing the solvent and recovering the calcium sulfonate product in oil.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a low-base number calcium sulfonate that is essentially chloride free. The process involves preparing a sulfonic acid solution by adding a solvent to sulfonic acid, removing dissolved or entrained SO2 or SO3, mixing the solution with a specific amount of water and calcium hydroxide, heating the mixture, separating out excess calcium hydroxide and calcium salts from the mixture, and recovering solvent and oil to capture the calcium sulfonate product.