Serial reforming with zirconium-promoted catalysts

Abstract

The catalyst comprises a Group-VIII-noble-metal hydrogenation component and a small amount of zirconium on a solid catalytic support comprising a porous refractory inorganic oxide. The zirconium may be present either in the elemental form or as compounds. The preferred hydrogenation component is platinum and the preferred porous refractory inorganic oxide is a catalytically active alumina. The reforming process comprises contacting a petroleum hydrocarbon stream in a reforming zone under reforming conditions and in the presence of hydrogen with the above-described catalyst. In one embodiment, the process comprises contacting a partially-reformed hydrocarbon stream in a reforming zone under reforming conditions and in the presence of hydrogen with the above catalyst. In another embodiment, the process comprises contacting a naphtha in a reforming zone under reforming conditions and in the presence of hydrogen with the above catalyst. In a third embodiment, the process comprises contacting the petroleum hydrocarbon stream in a first reforming zone under reforming conditions and in the presence of hydrogen with a first reforming catalyst to produce a first reformate and subsequently contacting the first reformate in a second reforming zone under reforming conditions and in the presence of hydrogen with a second reforming catalyst, said second reforming catalyst being the catalyst described in the preceding paragraph.