Catalytic Reforming in Petroleum Processing

Catalytic naphtha reforming is a major process in the petroleum refinery that converts low value naphthas into high-octane reformate product for gasoline blending and into high-value aromatics for petrochemical processing. Catalytic reforming also provides valuable hydrogen for hydroprocessing units to produce clean fuels. In the reforming process, naphthas rich in paraffins and naphthenes are converted mainly to aromatic hydrocarbons by contacting with a platinum-containing acidic catalyst at elevated temperatures and pressures. This chapter will briefly review the history of catalytic reforming and then describe the naphtha feed properties, market trends, reforming reactions, catalysts, deactivation mechanisms, catalyst regeneration, unit diagrams, process conditions and economics.