Reforming, platinum catalyst

The composition of a reforming catalyst is dictated by the composition of the feedstock and the desired reformate. The catalysts used are principally platinum or platinum—rhenium on an alumina base. The purpose of platinum on the catalyst is to promote dehydrogenation and hydrogenation reactions. Nonplatinum catalysts are used in regenerative processes for feedstocks containing sulfur, although pretreatment (hydrodesulfurization) may permit platinum catalysts to be employed. 

FIG. 23-24 Reactors with moving catalysts, a) Transport fluidized type for the Sasol Fischer-Tropsch process, nonregenerating, (h) Esso type of stable fluidized bed reactor/regeuerator for cracldug petroleum oils, (c) UOP reformer with moving bed of platinum catalyst and continuous regeneration of a controlled quantity of catalyst, (d) Flow distribution in a fluidized bed the catalyst rains through the bubbles. 

In a typical PAFC system, methane passes through a reformer with steam from the coolant loop of the water-cooled fuel cell. Heat for the reforming reaction is generated by combusting the depleted fuel. The reformed natural gas contains typically 60 percent H9, 20 percent CO, and 20 percent H9O. Because the platinum catalyst in the PAFC can tolerate only about 0.5 percent CO, this fuel mixture is passed through a water gas shift reactor before being fed to the fuel cell. 

While there are hydroformers still operating, reforming today is generally carried out in fixed bed units using platinum catalysts, because of their superior product yield and distribution. Fluid platinum catalyst processes are not feasible because catalyst losses would be too great. 

Powerforming is one tecnique used for aromatics chemical production. Powerforming uses a platinum catalyst to reform virgin naphthas. The principal reaction is the conversion of naphthenes in virgin naphthas to aromatics e.g., isomerization and dehydrocyclization reactions also occur in catalytic reforming. 

This is also an endothermic reaction, and the equilibrium production of aromatics is favored at higher temperatures and lower pressures. However, the relative rate of this reaction is much lower than the dehydrogenation of cyclohexanes. Table 3-6 shows the effect of temperature on the selectivity to benzene when reforming n-hexane using a platinum catalyst. 

Selectivity to benzene from reforming n-hexane over a platinum catalyst ... 

In technical hydrocarbon reforming processes using platinum catalysts, high hydrogen pressures are usually used to inhibit catalyst poisoning and coke formation as far as possible, for instance a total pressure of several atmospheres to several tens of atmospheres, with a several-fold excess of hydrogen in the reactant mixture. 

Any chemical derived from petroleum, the main refining processes being fractional distillation, catalytic cracking and platforming (reforming the constituents with the aid of a platinum catalyst). Since sulphur may be recovered from petroleum refining and since SBR, furnace black and processing oils are all petrochemicals it is... 

Shabaker, J. W. Davda, R. R. Huber, G. W. Cortright, R. D. Dumesic, J. A., Aqueous-phase reforming of methanol and ethylene glycol over alumina-supported platinum catalysts. Journal of Catalysis 2003, 215, 344. 

Catforming [Catalytic reforming] A catalytic reforming process using a platinum catalyst on a silica/alumina support. Developed by the Atlantic Refining Company and first operated in 1952. 

Hon (Informing A continuous catalytic reforming process for producing aromatic concentrates and high-octane gasoline. It used a fixed bed of a platinum catalyst. Developed in the 1950s by the Houdiy Process Corporation. 

Powerforming A catalytic reforming process, based on a platinum catalyst. Developed by Esso Research Engineering Company. First commercialized in Baltimore in 1955, and now widely licensed. 

SBK [Sinclair-Baker-Kellogg] A petroleum reforming process which uses a regenerable platinum catalyst. 

Sovaforming [Socony Vacuum reforming] A catalytic reforming process, using a platinum catalyst in a fixed bed. Developed by the Socony-Vacuum Oil Company in 1954. Subsequently renamed Platinum Reforming, or PR. 

The Pt-Re system has been studied extensively since the 1970s because adding Re to AhOs-supported platinum catalysts increases the resistance to deactivation of the catalysts used in naphtha reforming by preventing coke deposition. By using carbonyl precursors, well-defined bimetalhc species have been prepared. A proper characterization of these species allowed a relationship to be established between their structure and their catalytic behavior. Table 8.3 shows several Pt-Re bimetaUic catalytic systems prepared using different carbonyl species in which Pt-Re interactions determine the catalytic behavior. 

---