Influence of chloride during coke burning of a naphtha reforming catalyst coked in a commercial cycle

The effect of chloride addition during coke burning-off on the regeneration of the catalytic functions of a Pt-Re-S/Al2O3-Cl catalyst was studied. Samples were collected in an industrial unit during the fourth operation cycle, in which naphtha cuts of C-6-C-8 and C-7-C-9 were processed. It was found that regeneration with the highest chloride concentration produces the highest activity of the acid function The activity of the metallic function is easily recovered and is not influenced so strongly by chloride. The described regeneration procedure assures the recovery of both catalyst functions in only one step operation, saving time and preserving the catalyst. However, large amounts of chloride are required to regenerate all particles, since the efficiency of the process depends on the diffusional limitations of chloride in the outermost layers of the pellets.