Iridium-containing reforming catalyst and use thereof

Claim 2

A CATALYST SUITABLE FOR CONVERSION OF HYDROCARBONS COMPRISING A COMPOSITE OF AN ACIDIC POROUS INORGANIC OXIDE SUPPORT, PLATINU, IN CONCENTRATION RANGING FROM ABOUT 0.05 TO ABOUT 3 PERCENT, IRIDIUM IN CONCENTRATION RANGING FROM ABOUT 0.05 TO ABOUT 3 PERCENT, PALLADIUM IN CONCENTRATION RANGING FROM ABOUT 0.0001 TO ABOUT 2.5 PERCENT, AND HALOGEN IN CONCENTRATION RANGING FROM ABOUT 0.1 TO ABOUT 2.5 PERCENT BASED ON THE TOTAL WEIGHT OF THE CATALYST, THE ATOM RATIO OF THE PLATINUM:IRIDIUM RANGING FROM ABOUT 0.25:1 TO ABOUT 5:1, AND THE ATOM RATIO OF IRIDIUM:PALLADIUM RANGING FROM ABOUT 1:1 TO ABOUT 40:1.

Claim 3

The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the composite comprises from about 0.1 to about 1.0 percent platinum, from about 0.1 to about 1.0 percent iridium, and from about 0.0005 to about 0.15 percent palladium.

Claim 4

The catalyst of claim 2 wherein the palladium ranges from about 0.0050 to about 0.050 percent.

Claim 5

The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the halogen is chlorine.

Claim 6

The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the composite contains from about 0.5 to about 1.5 percent halogen.

Claim 7

The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the porous inorganic oxide support is alumina.

Claim 8

The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the composite contains from about 0.001 to about 2 percent sulfur.

Claim 9

The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the composite contains from about 0.01 to about 0.1 percent sulfur.

Claim 10

The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the atom ratio of iridium: palladium ranges from about 2:1 to about 10:1.

Claim 11

The catalyst of claim 1 wherein the atom ratio of the platinum:iridium ranges from about 1:1 to about 2:1, and the atom ratio of the iridium:palladium ranges from about 2:1 to about 10:

Claim 12

The catalyst of claim 2 wherein the atom ratio of the platinum:iridium ranges from about 1:1 to about 2:1, and the atom ratio of the iridium:palladium ranges from about 2:1 to about 10:

Claim 13

The catalyst of claim 3 wherein the atom ratio of the platinum:iridium ranges from about 1:1 to about 2:1, and the atom ratio of the iridium:palladium ranges from about 2:1 to about 10:

Claim 14

A reforming catalyst comprising a composite of alumina, platinum in concentration ranging from about 0.05 to about 1 percent, iridium in concentration ranging from about 0.05 to about 1 percent, palladium in concentration ranging from about 0.0001 to about 2.5 percent, chlorine in concentration ranging from about 0.5 to about 1.5 percent, and sulfur in concentration ranging from about 0.001 to about 2 percent, the atom ratio of the platinum:iridium ranging from about 0.25:1 to about 5:1, and the atom ratio of iridium:palladium ranging from about 1:1 to about 40:1.

Claim 15

A reforming catalyst comprising a composite of alumina, platinum in concentration ranging from about 0.05 to about 1 percent, iridium in concentration ranging from about 0.05 to about 1 percent, palladium in concentration ranging from about 0.0001 to about 2.5 percent, chlorine in concentration ranging from about 0.5 to about 1.5 percent, and sulfur in concentration ranging from about 0.001 to about 2 percent, the atom ratio of the platinum:iridium ranging from about 0.25:1 to about 5:1, and the atom ratio of iridium:palladium ranging from about 1:1 to about 40:1.

Claim 16

The composition of claim 13 wherein the palladium ranges from about 0.0050 to about 0.050 percent.

Claim 17

The catalyst of claim 13 wherein the alumina is gamma alumina, and the sum total concentration of the platinum and iridium ranges from about 0.3 to about 1 percent.

Claim 18

The catalyst of claim 13 wherein the sum total amount of platinum and iridium ranges from about 0.3 to about 1 percent, and the atom ratio of the iridium:palladium ranges from about 1:1 to about 40:1.

Claim 19

The catalyst of claim 13 wherein the sum total amount of platinum and iridium ranges from about 0.45 to about 0.70 percent, and the atom ratio of the iridium:palladium ranges from about 2:1 to about 10:1.

Claim 20

The catalyst of claim 13 wherein the atom ratio of the platinum:iridium ranges from about 1:1 to about 2:1, and the atom ratIo of iridium:palladium ranges from about 2:1 to about 10:1.

Claim 21

The catalyst of claim 13 wherein the concentration of the palladium ranges from about 0.0005 to about 0.15 percent.

Claim 22

The catalyst of claim 19 wherein the atom ratio of the platinum:iridium ranges from about 1:1 to about 2:1, and the atom ratio of iridium:palladium ranges from about 2:1 to about 10:1.

Claim 23

A process for improving the octane quality of naphthas comprising contacting the said naphtha at reforming conditions with a composite comprising a porous inorganic oxide support, platinum in concentration ranging from about 0.05 to about 3 percent, iridium in concentration ranging from about 0.05 to about 3 percent, palladium in concentration ranging from about 0.0001 to about 2.5 percent, and halogen in concentration ranging from 0.1 to about 2.5 percent based on the total weight of the catalyst, the atom ratio of the platinum:iridium ranging from about 0.25:1 to about 5:1, and the atom ratio of iridium: palladium ranging from about 10:1 to about 40:1.

Claim 24

A process for improving the octane quality of naphthas comprising contacting the said naphtha at reforming conditions with a composite comprising a porous inorganic oxide support, platinum in concentration ranging from about 0.05 to about 3 percent, iridium in concentration ranging from about 0.05 to about 3 percent, palladium in concentration ranging from about 0.0001 to about 2.5 percent, and halogen in concentration ranging from 0.1 to about 2.5 percent based on the total weight of the catalyst, the atom ratio of the platinum:iridium ranging from about 0.25:1 to about 5:1, and the atom ratio of iridium: palladium ranging from about 10:1 to about 40:1.

Claim 25

The process of claim 21 wherein the palladium ranges from about 0.0005 to about 0.15 percent.

Claim 26

The process of claim 21 wherein the palladium ranges from about 0.0050 to about 0.050 percent.

Claim 27

The process of claim 21 wherein the catalyst composite comprises from about 0.1 to about 1.0 percent platinum, from about 0.1 to about 1.0 percent iridium and from about 0.0005 to about 0.15 percent palladium.

Claim 28

The process of claim 24 wherein the sum total concentration of platinum and iridium ranges from about 0.3 to about 1 percent.

Claim 29

The process of claim 21 wherein the composite comprises from about 0.5 to about 1.5 percent halogen.

Claim 30

The process of claim 26 wherein the halogen is chlorine.

Claim 31

The process of claim 21 wherein the porous inorganic oxide support is alumina.

Claim 32

The process of claim 21 wherein the catalyst contains from about 0.001 to about 2 percent sulfur.

Claim 33

The process of claim 29 wherein the catalyst contains from about 0.01 to about 0.1 percent sulfur.

Claim 34

The process of claim 21 wherein reforming is conducted at temperatures ranging from about 600*F. to about 1,050*F., at pressures ranging from about 50 psig to about 750 psig, at space velocities ranging from about 0.1 to about 25 W/Hr./W, and at hydrogen rates ranging from about 1000 to about 10,000 SCF/Bbl.

Claim 35

The process of claim 31 wherein temperatures range from about 850*F. to about 1,000*F., pressures range from about 100 psig to about 250 psig, space velocities range from about 1.0 to about 5.0 W/W/Hr., and the hydrogen rate ranges from about 2,000 to about 5,000 SCF/Bbl.

Claim 36

The process of claim 21 wherein the atom ratio of the platinum:iridium ranges from about 1:1 to about 2:1, and the atom ratio of iridium:palladium ranges from about 2:1 to about 10:1.