Abstract A process for reforming a gasoline fraction, wherein a mixture of the gasoline fraction, hydrogen, sulfur or a sulfur-containing compound, is continuously contacted in a substantially water-free zone, with a reforming catalyst at conditions selected to produce a high-octane reformate and wherein the reforming catalyst comprises a combination of a platinum group component, a rhenium component, a halogen component, and a sulfur component with an alumina carrier material is improved by selecting the amount of sulfur or sulfur-containing compound continuously entering the reforming zone as a direct function of the atomic ratio of the platinum group metal to the rhenium metal contained in the catalyst. Key feature of the improved process involves the continuous use of sulfur in a range which is determined primary by reference to the atomic ratio of the platinum group metal to rhenium contained in the catalyst.
An improved process as defined in claim 1 wherein the platinum group component is platinum or a compound of platinum.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
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An improved process as defined in claim 1 wherein the halogen component is combined chlorine or fluorine.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
An improved process as defined in claim 1 wherein said reforming catalyst contains, on an elemental basis, about 0.1 to about 1.5 wt. percent of the halogen and about 0.05 to about 0.50 wt. percent of sulfur.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
An improved process as defined in claim 1 wherein said gasoline fraction is a naphtha boiling in the range of about C7-C11. fraction is a naphtha boiling in the range of about C7-C11.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
An improved process as defined in claim 1 wherein said reforming conditions include a pressure of about 100 to about 350 p.s.i.g.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
An improved process as defined in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the sulfur-containing compound continuously introduced into the reforming zone is a mercaptan which is admixed with the gasoline fraction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
An improved process as defined in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the sulfur-containing compound which is continuously introduced into the reforming zone is hydrogen sulfide which is admixed with the hydrogen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
An improved process as defined in claim 1 wherein said alumina carrier material is gamma or eta alumina.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
An improved process as defined in claim 1 wherein the amount of water or water-yielding compounds entering said reforming zone is substantially less than an amount equivalent to 25 wt. p.p.m. of the gasoline fraction, calculated as water.