Influence of Time and Temperature on the Regeneration of PtReIn/Al2O3 Naphtha Reforming Catalysts

Abstract

The influence of temperature (450–500 °C) and time (1–4 h) of coke combustion on the catalytic properties of PtReIn/Al2O3 were studied. The results of the cyclohexane dehydrogenation and cyclopentane hydrogenolysis reactions show that the regeneration treatment with diluted oxygen can fully recover the activity of the metal function despite some observed segregation of Re and In. In the case of the n-heptane reforming reaction, the regenerated catalysts had lower activity and stability than the fresh ones. The experiments at high temperature in air showed that In prevents the sintering of Pt and Re but at 650 °C a segregation of Re from the Pt–Re phase occurs.