Start-up procedure for reforming with platinum-iridium catalysts

A process for catalytically reforming a hydrocarbon feed boiling within the gasoline range by contacting same at reforming conditions with a bed of reactivated catalyst comprised of platinum, iridium and halide and sulfide components composited with inorganic oxide, wherein the catalyst has been deactivated by the deposition of coke deposits thereon, which comprises

• contacting the bed of said catalyst with a gaseous mixture containing oxygen at an elevated temperature for time sufficient to burn coke deposits therefrom,
• contacting said coke-depleted catalyst with hydrogen for a time sufficient to reduce said platinum and iridium components of said catalyst,
• contacting said reduced catalyst with an oxygen-free halogen-containing gas at temperatures sufficient to halogenate the catalyst
• equilibrating and wetting said coke-depleted catalyst with water, maintaining said catalyst in wetted condition and pretreating same at temperatures ranging from about 600.degree. F. to about 1000.degree. F. while adding an admixture comprised of water, halogen and hydrogen sulfide, and thereafter
• introducing said hydrocarbon feed into contact with said catalyst at reforming conditions to initiate the catalytic reforming reaction.