Multiple zone reforming process with tin-platinum-iridium catalysts

• Main Authors: BAIRD JR., WILLIAM CHALMERS, BOYLE, JOSEPH PHILIP, SWAN III, GEORGE ALEXANDER
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 17.06.1992
• Subjects: APPARATUS THEREFOR; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; CRACKING HYDROCARBON OILS; FUELS; GENERAL METHODS OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; LUBRICANTS; METALLURGY; MINERAL WAXES; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; PEAT; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PETROLEUM, GAS OR COKE INDUSTRIES; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; PRODUCTION OF LIQUID HYDROCARBON MIXTURES, e.g. BY DESTRUCTIVEHYDROGENATION, OLIGOMERISATION, POLYMERISATION; RECOVERY OF HYDROCARBON OILS FROM OIL-SHALE, OIL-SAND, ORGASES; REFINING MIXTURES MAINLY CONSISTING OF HYDROCARBONS; REFORMING OF NAPHTHA; TECHNICAL GASES CONTAINING CARBON MONOXIDE; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING

A process for reforming a naphtha feed at low severities with tin-modified platinum-iridium catalyst is described. Such catalysts manifest both high selectivity and high activity in reforming a naphtha feed at low severities in the lead reactor, or reactors, of a series of reactors (i.e., within the dehydrogenation and ring isomerization zone, or zones, of a reforming unit). The lead reactors of the series are charged with a tin-containing platinum-iridium catalyst, and the naphtha feed reformed to produce a low RON clear C5+ liquid reformate. The low octane product of the lead reactors may be transferred to a mogas pool, into blending components, or all or some part of the product further reformed. Preferably, the product is further reformed in a tail reactor, and preferably the tail reactor is charged with a non-tin containing platinum, or platinum-iridium catalyst.