1. Types of reactions to promote
The feedstocks usually processed by reforming are gasolines derived from the distillation of crude oil, known as naphthas. Their chemical composition varies according to the origin of the crude, but they are mixtures of hydrocarbons with 6 to 10 carbon atoms. While the concentration of aromatic hydrocarbons is always less than 20% by volume, the cyclane (naphthenic hydrocarbon) content can vary from 10% to 70%; similarly, the kerosene (alkane) content is highly variable, reaching 60% in naphthas from Middle Eastern crudes. The increase in aromatic content at the expense of other hydrocarbons implies :
dehydrogenation of cyclanes (alkylcyclohexanes) to aromatic compounds;
the dehydrocyclization of n-paraffins and isoparaffins into aromatic compounds, the first two reactions being accompanied by a significant...
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Types of reactions to promote
Thermodynamic and kinetic considerations
Bibliography
Economic data
In 2000, worldwide catalytic reforming capacity stood at 530 Mt/year, corresponding to 660 plants in operation worldwide.
In 2000, worldwide production capacity for aromatic hydrocarbons was 40 Mt/year for benzene, 21 Mt/year for toluene and 34 Mt/year for xylenes, with catalytic reforming and steam cracking of petroleum cuts being the two main production routes. At that date, reforming accounted...
Catalyst manufacturers
The global market for catalytic reforming catalysts in 2000 is estimated at around 5,000 t.
As a result of mergers and acquisitions and withdrawals, there are now around 5 catalyst manufacturers, marketing some 40 different products.
The main ones are :
UOP (Union Oil Products)
Procatalysis
...
User industries
There are around 660 catalytic reforming plants in 770 refineries worldwide. In short, all major refineries have a reforming unit, and the industrialists are therefore all types of refiner, and in particular :
the major groups: Exxon-Mobil, Shell, BP, Chevron-Texaco and TotalFinaElf;
national companies: Pemex, Saudi Aramco, Sonatrach... ;...
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