Chemical Engineering - Petroleum Refinery Engineering - Discussion

Platforming

The Universal Oil Products Company introduced in 1949 the first platinum reforming process, termed Platforming. Today, although several other processes exist, Platforming still accounts for the greater part of platinum reforming operations. It employs a catalyst consisting of platinum on alumina with a small but critical percentage of halogen added to maintain the correct balance between the conversion of paraffin by dehydrocyclization, hydrocracking, and isomerization. Platforming raises the research octane numbers of feed naphthas from 30 to 50 to over 90 with 85 to 95 percent yields.

This is a fixed bed, non-regenerative process, operating at 850 to 950° F and at 200 to 700 PSIG. Catalyst life may exceed 200 bbl. per lb catalyst, although lower values are usual.