Abstract: A process wherein, in a series of reforming zones, or onstream reactors, each of which contains a bed, or beds of catalyst, the catalyst in the leading reforming zones is constituted of supported platinum and a relatively low concentration of rhenium, and the catalyst in the last reforming zone, or reactor of the series, is constituted of platinum and a relatively high concentration of rhenium, and a swing reactor, also containing a supported platinum and rhenium catalyst, is manifolded so that it can be substituted for any one of the onstream reactors of the unit. The entry side, or upper portion of the swing reactor contains a catalyst constituted of platinum and a relatively low concentration of rhenium, and the exit side, or lower portion of the reactor contains a catalyst constituted of platinum and a relatively high concentration of rhenium.

Abstract: A process, or procedure, for the start-up of reforming units, particularly those employing highly active sulfur-sensitive polymetallic, promoted noble metal containing catalysts. On start-up of a reforming unit, a sulfur-containing naphtha feed is fed at reforming conditions over a platinum-catalyst containing lead reactor of a series while bypassing subsequent reactors of the series, the product therefrom is separated into hydrogen-containing gas and C.sub.5.sup.+ liquid fractions, the hydrogen-containing gas fraction is desulfurized and dried and recycled to the platinum-catalyst containing lead reactor and, after sufficient hydrogen has been generated for operation of a Hydrofiner which is used to hydrodesulfurize the naphtha feed for the reformer, product from the platinum-catalyst containing lead reactor is fed to subsequent reactors of the series which contain the more sulfur-sensitive catalysts.

Abstract: A process for reforming naphtha, with hydrogen, in a cyclic reforming unit which contains a plurality of catalyst-containing on-stream reactors in series, and a catalyst-containing swing reactor manifolded therewith which can be periodically placed in series and substituted for an on-stream reactor while the latter is removed from series for regeneration and reactivation of the catalyst contained therein. In the process, the ability of a catalyst to operate in a hydrogenolysis mode and effect sulfur release can be effectively suppressed after the freshly prepared catalyst has been regenerated, and reactivated several times, generally about five times or more, by the addition thereto of sufficient sulfur to maintain an equilibrium amount of sulfur on the catalyst, preferably a maximum of about 0.01 weight percent sulfur.

Abstract: A process for reforming with hydrogen, or hydroforming, a naphtha in a cyclic reforming unit which contains a plurality of catalyst-containing on stream reactors in series, and a catalyst-containing swing reactor manifolded therewith which can be periodically placed in series and substituted for an on stream reactor while the latter is removed from series for regeneration and reactivation of the catalyst contained therein. In the process, a reactor which is next scheduled for regeneration and reactivation of its near deactivated catalyst is located immediately downstream next in series with a reactor which contains freshly regenerated, reactivated catalyst at the time the latter is initially put on stream so that sulfur released by the freshly regenerated, reactivated catalyst which occurs a short time after the upstream reactor has been returned to service, is adsorbed by the near deactivated catalyst of the reactor next requiring removal from the series for catalyst regeneration and reactivation.