ABSTRACT
Naphtha reforming performed an integral role in gasoline production almost since the start of petroleum refining. Catalytic naphtha reforming is a refining technology that was developed to convert low octane number naphtha into high octane number naphtha. Conventional catalytic naphtha reforming catalysts are bifunctional catalysts, with both metal and acid functions. These catalysts employ platinum as metal, often in combination with a second metal, such as tin, rhenium or iridium. Catalytic naphtha reforming is a refining technology that was developed to convert low octane number naphtha to high octane number naphtha. Thermal naphtha reforming was replaced by catalytic naphtha reforming. In catalytic reforming, the change in the boiling point of the stock passed through the unit is relatively small, as the hydrocarbon molecular structures are rearranged to form higher-octane aromatics with only a minor amount of cracking. Catalytic naphtha reforming played another important role, namely, producing hydrogen. The catalyst support material for most catalytic naphtha reforming catalysts is chlorided alumina.
