Reforming catalyst and process

Abstract

A platinum-containing aluminum oxide reforming catalyst is disclosed which is modified by incorporating silica therein. The resulting catalyst is used to reform naphtha yielding a reformate having a higher C5 and aromatic content than that achieved using a similar catalyst which contains no added silica.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A modified platinum-containing refractory aluminum oxide reforming catalyst containing from about 0.1 to about 10% by weight silica.  
     
     
         2 . The catalyst of  claim 1  which is bifunctional and further contains at least one other metal selected from the group consisting of palladium, indium, rhenium, tin, gallium, lead, iron and tungsten.  
     
     
         3 . The catalyst of  claim 2  which further contains from about 0.1 to 3 wt % halogen.  
     
     
         4 . The catalyst of  claim 1  wherein said aluminum oxide is alumina.  
     
     
         5 . The catalyst of  claim 1  wherein said silica is combined with said aluminum oxide catalyst by mixing catalyst powder with a solution of colloidal silica and drying said mixture.  
     
     
         6 . The catalyst of  claim 1  wherein said silica is combined with said aluminum oxide catalyst by mixing catalyst powder with an organosilicon compound, followed by calcination in air to convert said compound to silica.  
     
     
         7 . A process for reforming naphtha comprising contacting a naphtha stream under reforming conditions with the catalyst of  claim 1  and recovering a reformate having an enhanced content of aromatic compounds.  
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 7  wherein said catalyst is bifunctional and further contains at least one other metal selected from the group consisting of palladium, iridium, rhenium, tin, gallium, lead, iron and tungsten.  
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8  wherein said catalyst further contains from about 0.1 to 3 wt % halogen.  
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 7  wherein said aluminum oxide is alumina.  
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 7  wherein said silica is combined with said aluminum oxide catalyst by mixing catalyst powder with a solution of colloidal silica and drying said mixture.  
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 7  wherein said silica is combined with said aluminum oxide catalyst by mixing catalyst powder with an organosilicon compound followed by calcination in air to convert said compound to silica.