Catalyst regeneration procedure

In a process for the catalytic conversion of a naphtha feed stock wherein a naphtha feed sotck and hydrogen are contacted with a catalyst comprising from about 0.01 to about 3.0 wt. % of an iridium component and a chlorine component contained on a refractory inorganic oxide support at reforming conditions, the catalyst having been at least partially deactivated during contact with said naphtha feed stock by the deposition of carbonaceous residues, a method of regenerating said catalyst comprising (1) contacting said catalyst, after contact with said naphtha feed stock with an oxygen-free chlorine-containing reagent in a gaseous medium from the group consisting of hydrocarbon feed, hydrogen containing gas, inert gas and mixtures thereof in amounts sufficient to increase catalyst chlorine content to about 1.0 to about 4.0 wt. %, based on anhydrous catalyst, and (2) contacting said treated catalyst with a substantially sulfur-free gaseous mixture containing oxygen, a chlorine-containing reagent, and water at a temperature of less than about 1050.degree.F. for a time sufficient to burn at least a substantial portion of said carbonaceous residues from said catalyst, said gaseous mixture containing 0.1 to 1.0 mole percent oxygen and a concentration of chlorine-containing reagent equivalent in chlorine content to 20 to 2000 ppm by volume of HCl, the molar ratio of water to said equivalent HCl in said gaseous mixture being less than about 10:1.

In a process for the catalytic reforming of naphtha feed stocks wherein said naphtha feed stock and hydrogen are contacted in a reaction zone with a catalyst comprising from about 0.01 to about 3.0 wt. % of an iridium component and a chlorine component contained on a refractory support at naphtha reforming conditions, the catalyst having been at least partially deactivated during contact with said naphtha feed stock and hydrogen by the deposition of carbonaceous residues thereon, a method for regenerating said catalyst comprising:

• 1. during the operation of said process, introducing into said reaction zone with said naphtha feed stock and hydrogen an oxygen-free chlorine-containing reagent in amounts sufficient to increase catalyst chlorine content to 1.0 to about 4.0 wt. %, based on anhydrous catalyst, and thereafter discontinuing the contacting of said catalyst with said naphtha feed stock;
• 2. contacting said catalyst with an inert gas to purge hydrogen and naphtha feed stock from contact with said catalyst;
• and
• 3. contacting said treated catalyst with a substantially sulfur-free gaseous mixture containing oxygen, a chlorine-containing reagent and water at a temperature of about 750.degree.-1000.degree.F. for a time sufficient to burn at least a substantial portion of said carbonaceous residues from said catalyst, said gaseous mixture containing 0.1 to 1.0 mole percent oxygen and a concentration of chlorine-containing reagent equivalent in chlorine content to 50 to 1000 ppm by volume of HCl, the molar ratio of water to said equivalent HCl in said gaseous mixture being less than about 10:1.