Abstract:
A process for preparing a reforming catalyst comprises incorporating a group IA alkali metal from an aqueous alkaline solution into a zeolitic material by means of ion exchange to form an alkali metal-modified zeolitic support material, which is dried, calcined and combined with an inorganic oxide. The combination is dried and calcined to form a stable inorganic oxide/zeolitic catalyst support which is impregnated with a Group VIII metal by ionic exchange to form an impregnated inorganic oxide/zeolitic catalyst support which is dried, calcined and reduced from a naphtha reforming catalyst.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a zeolitic type catalyst with high stability in its physical, chemical and catalytic properties to obtain high octane gasoline by the conversion of paraffinic and naphthenic hydrocarbons present in the feed to a naphtha reforming process. 
     More particularly, this invention relates to a procedure for the preparation of a monometallic platinum catalyst on an inorganic oxide/zeolite support, preferably beta zeolite, used to convert paraffinic and naphthenic hydrocarbons which are present in the naphtha reforming process. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     There exists a great variety of naphtha reforming catalyst which comprise a support to which metals from Group VIII are integrated by simultaneous or stagewise impregnation methods or by using incipient wetness techniques. The support may be a synthetic or natural inorganic oxide or a combination of both, such as alumina, alumina-silicate, magnesium oxide, bentonite, diatomaceous earth, silica, crystalline zeolites, and others. However, reforming processes are generally carried out in the presence of low cracking catalysts which limits the acidity range. Therefore, the most common supports used for the preparation of these catalyst are alumina, especially high purity alumina (gamma or eta alumina), magnesia, crystalline aluminosilicates (zeolites) with controlled acidity, or a combination thereof. 
     Metals from Group VIII (8, 9 and 10) which have been used are cobalt, nickel, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, indium and/or platinum. Metals from Group IA which have been used are lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium and/or francium. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,109, which patent is incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses a procedure for the preparation of a high activity, selectivity and stability catalyst, using L type zeolite to which washings are performed using an aqueous potassium solution, with a 9.4 to 10 pH and integrating platinum to the support, using tetraamino platinum chloride as a platinum source. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,158, which patent is incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses a procedure to prepare a catalyst for a reforming process. Such catalyst contains a noble metal in a faujasite or L type zeolite. Catalysts are prepared by treating zeolites with platinum or palladium acetilacetonate or both, or platinum sources such as tetraamino platinum chloride or chloral platinic acid in aqueous solution at 1 wt % concentrations. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,066,628, which patent is incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses a procedure to obtain a bimetallic catalyst for a reforming process containing an L zeolite on which the cationic sites have been exchanged with potassium or barium or both and containing a noble metal and rhenium. This catalyst brings high selectivity to aromatics formation. The catalyst has a platinum/rhenium weight ratio between 0.01:1.0 to 10:0, which platinum is integrated to zeolite (BaKL) by incipient wetness impregnation with nitrate tetraamino platinum aqueous solution, and rhenium is integrated by incipient wetting with ammonium pherrenate aqueous solution. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention involves a catalyst preparation technique which is relatively simple and provides a naphtha reforming catalyst having a high activity and stability in naphtha reforming including reactions of dehydrogenation, dehydrocyclization and naphthene and paraffinic isomerization, which results in high octane gasoline. 
     The present process involves a process for preparing a reforming catalyst which comprises incorporating a group IA alkali metal from an aqueous alkaline solution into a zeolitic material by means of ion exchange to form an alkali metal-modified zeolitic support material. The modified zeolitic support material is dried, calcined and combined with an inorganic oxide. The combined material is dried and calcined to form a stable inorganic oxide/zeolitic catalyst support. The inorganic oxide/zeolitic catalyst support is impregnated with a Group VIII metal to form an impregnated inorganic oxide/zeolitic catalyst support. The impregnated inorganic oxide/zeolitic catalyst support is dried, calcined and reduced to provide a naphtha reforming catalyst. 
     Surprisingly, the catalyst produced by the process of the present invention does not require a continuous chlorine adjustment to maintain the chlorine concentration as required by a commercial catalyst, as hereinafter demonstrated. 
     More specifically, the process involves the following stages: 
     1. Preparing the zeolitic material, modifying its intrinsic acidity by means of a neutralizing agent; 
     2. Drying the modified zeolitic material at a temperature to eliminate moisture, and calcining the dried product at high temperatures; 
     3. Preparing the support by combining an inorganic oxide and the modified zeolitic material with a chemical treatment, and further support preparation with the alumina and modified zeolite; 
     4. Drying the alumina and modified zeolite support to eliminate moisture and subsequent calcination at high temperature to generate stable physical and chemical properties in the support; 
     5. Preparing an impregnation solution with the desired metal in an alkaline media and contacting the solution with the porous support using ion exchange at room temperature to impregnate the support with the metal; and 
     6. Drying the support impregnated with the metal, calcining the impregnated support in an oxidizing atmosphere and activating the catalyst in a reducing atmosphere. 
     The resulting catalyst contains an element of Group IA (1) and an element from Group VIII (10) together on a refractory support of inorganic oxides with elements from Group IVA (14) and IIIA (13). To integrate the mentioned metals, an ion exchange method is used to integrate an element from Group IA (1) into the zeolitic material and the resultant zeolitic material is impregnated by incipient wetness or ion exchange (Group VIII (10) metal complexes) to integrate this metal into a cylindrical, spherical or trilob support which is formed with inorganic oxides from Groups IVA (14) and IIIA (13). These oxides are treated for stabilization and activation, giving place to a high activity, selectivity and stability catalyst. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The process of the present invention involves various stages as hereinafter described. 
     An aqueous alkaline solution is formed with an hydroxide, nitrate or chloride, for example, of a Group IA metal, such as sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium or lithium, with cesium being preferred. 
     For example, an aqueous solution of cesium hydroxide may be used having a concentration between from about 3 to about 25 wt % cesium based on the weight of zeolite to be exchanged, maintaining pH values between about 7.5 and about 12, preferably between about 8.5 and about 11. Cesium will be hereinafter specifically referred to for illustrative purposes. 
     Any suitable zeolite may be used in the process of the present invention, including a beta type crystalline zeolite, an L type zeolite, a pentasil ZSM-5 type zeolite, and a faujasite Y type zeolite with a high SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3  ratio, namely, a mole ratio of at least about 50, preferably between about 50 to about 90 mol/mol, or mixtures of such zeolites. The aforesaid zeolites are well known and are used in the process of the present invention without pretreatment. The beta type zeolite is preferred, and will be hereinafter referred to for illustrative purposes. 
     The cesium metal in solution is integrated into the zeolitic material by ion exchange maintaining constant agitation to enable intimate contact between the beta crystalline zeolite and the cesium hydroxide solution, for a period between about 30 minutes and about 5 hours, preferably between about one and about two hours. 
     The mixture is then filtered to eliminate residues from the alkaline solution and the zeolitic material is washed with deionized water to ensure that cesium contained in the zeolite material is the only one to be exchanged during the process. 
     The washed material is dried to eliminate moisture in the zeolite at a temperature between about 90° and about 180° C., and preferably between about 100° and about 150° C., for a period of from about 30 minutes to about 3 hours, and preferably from about 1 to about 2 hours. 
     The dried zeolite material is then calcined at a temperature of between about 300° and about 600° C., and preferably between about 450° and about 550° C. to obtain a stable modified zeolitic material. 
     Meanwhile, an extrudable inorganic oxide paste is prepared by agitating the inorganic oxide with deionized water and an acid. Suitable inorganic oxides include gamma alumina, eta alumina and precursors of such aluminas, including bayerite, bohemite and gibsite; magnesia, titania, or combinations of such inorganic metal oxides, with bohemite being preferred. For example, bohemite, deionized water and nitric acid are mechanically agitated to form a paste and the cesium exchanged zeolite is added and mixed until an extrudable homogenized paste is obtained. In addition to nitric acid, the inorganic oxide paste can be formed using chlorhydric acid, formic acid or acetic acid, for example. 
     Extrusion of the resulting paste is performed to obtain a cylindrical extrudate, for example, about 1.65 to about 1.80 mm diameter. The resulting support is dried, first at room temperature for a period between about 30 minutes to about 4 hours, and preferably from about 1 hour to about 2 hours, and then dried at moderate temperatures between about 90° and about 180° C., and preferably 100° and about 150° C., for 30 minutes to 3 hours, and preferably from about 1 hour to about 2 hours. Then calcination is preformed at a high temperature of between about 300° and about 600° C., and preferably from about 450° and about 550° C., to obtain an alumina-modified zeolite support with high stability. Any suitable extrudate form may be used, including spherical, cylindrical, trilob or other forms. 
     The hydrogenating-dehydrogenating metal may be any Group VIII (10) noble metal, such as platinum or palladium, with platinum being preferred. The Group VIII (10) metal is incorporated in the support by an ion exchange technique using, for example, as a platinum source, salts from amino chloride or tetraamino nitrate platinum complex compounds. The impregnating aqueous solution is contacted with the support for a period of from about 24 to about 96 hours, and preferably from about 24 to about 72 hours, at room temperature. Suitable amounts of the Group VIII noble metal should be used to provide from about 0.20 to about 0.50 wt % based on the total catalyst weight. Next, it is decanted and the impregnated solid is washed and dried at a moderate temperature between about 90° and about 180° C., and preferably between about 100° and about 150° C., for a period between about 30 minutes and about 3 hours, and preferably between about 1 hour and about 2 hours. After this drying stage, calcination at high temperature is performed under oxidation conditions at a temperature of between about 200° and about 600° C., and preferably between about 200° and about 500° C., for a period between about 0.5 and about 10 hours, and preferably between about 1 hour and about 6 hours. This calcination is in an oxidizing atmosphere using dry air or a mixture of oxygen-nitrogen. Next, the product is activated in a reducing atmosphere between about 200° and about 650° C., and preferably between about 400° and about 650° C., for a period of between about 0.5 and about 8 hours, and preferably between about 2 hours and about 6 hours. 
     A preferred catalyst contains from about 0.5 to about 2 wt % cesium based on the wt. % catalyst base. 
     The aforesaid preparation procedure was performed at atmospheric pressure, but can be conducted at higher or lower pressures. 
     Raw materials that can be used in the previous procedure are chlorine-platinum acid, or nitrate, or tetraamino platinum chloride as platinum sources; as alkaline metal sources, cesium nitrate, cesium chloride or cesium hydroxide can be used; beta type crystalline zeolites, as well as L type, pentasil ZSM-5-type and faujasite Y type zeolites: crystalline phase alumina, gamma or eta, precursors of these (bayerite, bohemite or gibsite), magnesia, titania, or combinations of them, as supports, in extrudate form (cylindrical, trilob or other forms) and spherical. 
     The catalyst obtained by this procedure has high activity, selectivity and stability for dehydrogenation, dehydrocyclization and naphtha isomerization to obtain high octane gasoline. 
     The resulting catalyst of this invention produces high hydrocarbon conversion to products of increased commercial value (high octane gasoline, fuel gas, C 1 -C 2  LPG, C 3 -C 4  hydrocarbons and hydrogen). Additionally, when the present catalyst is used to obtain high octane gasoline in a naphtha reforming process, it can easily be regenerated using conventional controlled combustion techniques. For example, carbon deposits can be removed from the present catalyst using an oxygen-containing gas at a pressure between 3 to 10 kg/cm 2  and a temperature between 300° to 420° C. for a period between 10 to 25 hours, and subsequently incrementing the temperature between 430° to 500° C. for a period of 5 to 15 hours. 
     The invention will be further illustrated by the following examples. It should be understood that they are not intended to limit the scope of this invention. All percentages are by weight unless otherwise noted. 
    
    
     EXAMPLE 1 
     Using 10 grams of beta type zeolite, in its acid form, with a specific area of 789 m 2  and pore volume of 1.17 cm 3 /g, a catalyst was prepared using the following procedure: 
     A cesium hydroxide aqueous solution was prepared having a final pH above 9.0, containing 0.6316 grams of cesium hydroxide monohydrate, in 25 ml of deionized water. The solution is added to the zeolitic material while continuously agitating to allow ion exchange. Cesium ions exchange with zeolite acid sites. Agitation is maintained for 1 hour to 2 hours at room temperature. The resulting material was dried at a moderate temperature of between 90° and 150° C. using hot air flow for a period of 1-3 hours. The catalyst is then calcined at a temperature of between 400-600° C. An extrudate is prepared by forming an alumina paste from bohemite and the modified zeolite. To perform this, bohemite is exposed to a chemical treatment. Calculated bohemite (12% excess in relation to required alumina; 89.1 wt % alumina in the final product), is chemically treated with nitric acid solution with 10% volume concentration, using a 15% of acid with respect to the calculated bohemite quantity. The deionized water is 50% with respect to the bohemite quantity used. 
     Within a vessel, 80% of the water is put in contact with the bohemite, adding slowly to the water, and continuously agitating using a mechanical agitator. Next, the calculated acid quantity is added while constantly agitating. At the same time, modified zeolite was dissolved in the same quantity of water (a 20% excess is allowed) which is incorporated into the alumina paste and is homogenized by a constant agitation. The zeolite in the vessel is washed with the remaining 20% deionized water. The zeolite and water are mixed until a handling paste is obtained (5-20 minutes). Next, extrusion of the paste is performed with extruding equipment to form cylindrical extrudates having a diameter of 1.65 to 1.80 mm. 
     The dried extrudate is then separated to obtain cylindrical particles with a length between 4.5 to 8.5 mm. The particles are dried at moderate temperature between 100°-150° C. for a period of 1-2 hours. Next, the solid is calcined at a temperature between 200° and 500° C. for a period of between 1-6 hours. The calcined material is impregnated with an aqueous solution containing 0.7938 tetraamino platinum nitrate solution which is contacted with the support for 72 to 90 hours at room temperature. After this period, the remaining liquid is decanted, followed by drying of the material at a temperature between 100°-150° C. for a period of 1 to 2 hours. After this, the resulting solid material is calcined at a temperature between 200° and 500° C. for a period of between 1 to 6 hours, under an oxidizing atmosphere. 
     The resultant product was activated under a reducing atmosphere containing pure hydrogen in a pilot plant unit, at a temperature between 400°-500° C. for 2 to 6 hours. 
     In this way, a catalyst (I) was obtained with the metals in an elemental stage in a high percentage and final concentration of 0.40 wt % Pt, 0.5 wt % Cs both based on the weight of the catalyst support, having a surface area of 241 m 2 /g and pore volume of 0.5 cc/g. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     Using the preparation methodology described in Example 1, a modified zeolite catalyst batch was prepared, with only platinum integration technique, using incipient wetness impregnation to obtain catalyst (II) with similar characteristics as described in Example 1. Composition of this batch was 0.40 wt % platinum and 0.5 wt % cesium, based on the weight of the catalyst support, with a 230 m 2 /g surface area and a pore volume of 0.48 cc/g. 
     The oxidation reduction methodology used to prepare the catalyst was the same as that used for the catalyst in Example 1. 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     To evaluate catalytic properties for Catalysts I and II, these were evaluated at pilot plant level using a fixed bed reactor. On this plant, a naphthenic stream was put in contact with an hydrogen stream in the presence of the catalyst at typical naphtha reforming process operating conditions, using fresh catalyst to obtain high octane gasoline. 
     Table 1 shows a summary of the principal characteristics of the obtained catalysts by the previously described procedures. Tables 2, 3 and 4 show the operating conditions and feed characteristics used to obtain high octane gasoline. Also, pilot plant evaluation results for Catalysts I and II are shown. These results are compared with results from a commercial reference catalyst. It is significant to note that during pilot plant evaluations with the reference commercial catalyst, continuous chlorine adjustment was required to maintain the same initial chlorine concentration on the catalyst during the test, but not with Catalysts I and II. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 1 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 PRINCIPAL CHARACTERISTICS EVALUATED SAMPLES 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Catalyst 
                 I 
                 II 
                 Commercial 
               
               
                   
               
               
                 Support 
                 Zeolite β/γ Al 2 O 3   
                 Zeolite β/γ Al 2 O 3   
                 γ Al 2 O 3   
               
               
                 Surface Area, m 2 /g 
                 241 
                 230 
                 200 
               
               
                 Pore Volume, cc/g 
                 0.5 
                 0.48 
                 0.55 
               
               
                 Density, g/cc 
                 0.5 
                 0.5 
                 0.7 
               
               
                 Pt, wt % 
                 0.4 
                 0.40 
                 0.28 
               
               
                 Re, wt % 
                 — 
                 — 
                 0.28 
               
               
                 Cesium, wt % 
                 0.5 
                 0.5 
                 — 
               
               
                 Cl, wt % 
                 — 
                 — 
                 0.92 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     Without limiting the present invention to a particular theory, it is believed that when using conventional catalysts, the Bronsted acidity necessary to perform naphtha reforming reactions is generated by chlorine ions in combination with hydroxyl groups from the active alumina (e.g., gamma). The chlorine has the property of migrating from hydroxyl to hydroxyl until it finally leaves the catalytic system. This necessitates a constant chlorine addition in order to maintain the required acidity level. By contrast, when using the catalyst of the present invention, acidity is provided by the zeolitic material, resulting in a stable acidity depending only on the material crystalline structure, and not requiring any chlorine addition for operation. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 2 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 FEED PRINCIPAL CHARACTERISTICS. 
               
               
                 PILOT PLANT EVALUATIONS 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Feed 
                 Desulfurized Naphtha 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Initial Boiling Temperature, ° C. 
                 89.6 
               
               
                   
                 Final Boiling Temperature, ° C. 
                 194.5 
               
               
                   
                 PIONA, Analysis, wt % 
                 — 
               
               
                   
                 Paraffins 
                 26.73 
               
               
                   
                 Iso paraffins 
                 27.12 
               
               
                   
                 Olefins 
                 0.40 
               
               
                   
                 Naphthenes 
                 19.28 
               
               
                   
                 Aromatics 
                 22.20 
               
               
                   
                 Octane Number 
                 56 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 3 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 OPERATING CONDITIONS USED FOR 
               
               
                 CATALYSTS EVALUATION AT PILOT PLANT LEVEL 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Operating Conditions 
                   
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Pressure, Kg/cm 2   
                 13.5 
               
               
                   
                 Temperature, ° C. 
                 450-520 
               
               
                   
                 Space Velocity, h-1 
                 1.6 
               
               
                   
                 Molar Ratio, H 2 /HC 
                 6.5 
               
               
                   
                 Iso paraffins 
                 27.12 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 4 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 PILOT PLANT EVALUATIONS RESULTS TO OBTAIN 
               
               
                 HIGH OCTANE GASOLINE USING CATALYSTS 1, 
               
               
                 II AND COMMERCIAL CATALYST ACTIVITY AND 
               
               
                 SELECTIVITY TEST WITH TEMPERATURE 
               
               
                 VARIATION 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Temperature, ° C. 
                 RON 
                 YIELD, C5+, wt % 
                 PROD, H2, wt % 
                 R—O 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Fresh Catalyst 
               
               
                 Catalyst I 
               
             
          
           
               
                 450 
                 96.7 
                 84.11 
                 0.62 
                 81.33 
               
               
                 460 
                 98.1 
                 83.68 
                 0.69 
                 82.09 
               
               
                 470 
                 98.6 
                 83.23 
                 0.81 
                 82.06 
               
               
                 480 
                 99.2 
                 82.93 
                 0.98 
                 82.27 
               
               
                 490 
                 100 
                 82.42 
                 1.04 
                 82.42 
               
               
                 500 
                 100.8 
                 81.70 
                 1.16 
                 82.44 
               
               
                 510 
                 101.9 
                 81.32 
                 1.29 
                 82.87 
               
               
                 520 
                 102.6 
                 80.58 
                 1.36 
                 82.68 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Catalyst II 
               
             
          
           
               
                 450 
                 95.8 
                 84.45 
                 0.63 
                 81.28 
               
               
                 460 
                 96.8 
                 83.85 
                 0.67 
                 81.17 
               
               
                 470 
                 97.9 
                 83.54 
                 0.79 
                 81.79 
               
               
                 480 
                 98.5 
                 83.09 
                 0.98 
                 81.84 
               
               
                 490 
                 99.4 
                 82.57 
                 1.07 
                 82.07 
               
               
                 500 
                 100.1 
                 81.88 
                 1.20 
                 81.96 
               
               
                 510 
                 101.1 
                 81.25 
                 1.31 
                 82.14 
               
               
                 520 
                 102.0 
                 80.39 
                 1.38 
                 81.99 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Commercial Catalyst 
               
             
          
           
               
                 450 
                 87 
                 91.5 
                 1.70 
                 79.61 
               
               
                 470 
                 89 
                 90 
                 1.80 
                 80.10 
               
               
                 490 
                 93.4 
                 87.2 
                 1.96 
                 81.44 
               
               
                 510 
                 97.1 
                 83.9 
                 2.23 
                 81.47 
               
               
                 520 
                 98 
                 81 
                 2.29 
                 79.38 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     EXAMPLE 4 
     In order to confirm the stability of physical, chemical and catalytic properties for Catalyst I, a regeneration process was performed after the pilot plant evaluation, as described in Example 3. Spent catalysts (Catalyst I and Commercial) were treated to eliminate carbon and in the commercial catalyst case, the chlorine content was adjusted to the initial value. The regenerated catalysts were evaluated to determine activity and selectivity in a similar way as performed in Example 3, but using the regenerated catalysts. The results obtained from this test are reported in Table 5. 
     It is noted that pilot plant evaluations with the reference commercial catalyst required a continuous chlorine adjustment to maintain the initial concentration on the catalyst through the test. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 5 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                 PILOT PLANT EVALUATIONS RESULTS IN OBTAINING 
               
               
                 HIGH OCTANE GASOLINES WITH REGENERATED 
               
               
                 CATALYST I AND COMMERCIAL SAMPLES FOR 
               
               
                 ACTIVITY AND SELECTIVITY TESTS WITH 
               
               
                 TEMPERATURE VARIATION 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Temperature, ° C. 
                 RON 
                 YIELD, C5+, wt % 
                 PROD, H2, wt % 
                 R—O 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Regenerated Catalysts 
               
               
                 Regenerated Catalyst I 
               
             
          
           
               
                 450 
                 95.9 
                 84.32 
                 0.61 
                 80.86 
               
               
                 460 
                 97.4 
                 83.86 
                 0.67 
                 81.68 
               
               
                 470 
                 98.0 
                 83.39 
                 0.78 
                 81.72 
               
               
                 480 
                 98.5 
                 83.07 
                 0.96 
                 81.82 
               
               
                 490 
                 99.4 
                 82.62 
                 1.03 
                 82.12 
               
               
                 500 
                 100.1 
                 81.94 
                 1.14 
                 82.02 
               
               
                 510 
                 101.3 
                 81.56 
                 1.30 
                 82.62 
               
               
                 520 
                 101.8 
                 80.73 
                 1.35 
                 82.18 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Commercial Regenerated Catalyst 
               
             
          
           
               
                 490 
                 93.0 
                 85.43 
                 1.85 
                 79.45 
               
               
                 500 
                 94.5 
                 84.20 
                 2.08 
                 79.57 
               
               
                 510 
                 97.0 
                 82.00 
                 2.20 
                 79.54 
               
               
                 520 
                 98.4 
                 81.49 
                 2.30 
                 80.19 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     EXAMPLE 5 
     In order to confirm catalytic stability for Catalyst I, a catalytic stability test was performed at constant temperature, in which Catalyst I was evaluated maintaining a 460° C. constant temperature while the rest of the operating conditions were kept similar to those used in Examples 3 and 4 of the present invention. The reference commercial catalyst was evaluated at similar conditions, but keeping a 510° C. constant temperature. Results obtained from the evaluations are shown on Table 6. 
     Pilot Plant evaluations with the reference commercial catalyst required a continuous chlorine adjustment to keep the initial concentration level on catalyst throughout the test. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 6 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                  PILOT PLANT EVALUATION RESULTS IN OBTAINING 
               
               
                 HIGH OCTANE GASOLINES WITH CATALYST I AND 
               
               
                 COMMERCIAL CATALYST FOR CATALYTIC STABILITY 
               
               
                 TEST AT CONSTANT TEMPERATURE 
               
               
                 Fresh Catalysts 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 Commercial (510° C.) 
                 Catalyst I (460° C.) 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Time, hrs 
                 RON 
                 C5, wt % 
                 R—O 
                 RON 
                 C5+, wt % 
                 R—O 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 8 
                 99.1 
                 79.5 
                 78.78 
                 98.3 
                 82.64 
                 81.24 
               
               
                 24 
                 98.1 
                 80.8 
                 79.26 
                 98.4 
                 82.6 
                 81.28 
               
               
                 40 
                 97.0 
                 81.1 
                 78.66 
                 98.3 
                 82.48 
                 81.08 
               
               
                 56 
                 96.6 
                 81.5 
                 78.82 
                 98.2 
                 82.52 
                 81.03 
               
               
                 72 
                 95.8 
                 80.7 
                 78.25 
                 98.1 
                 82.6 
                 81.03 
               
               
                 88 
                 96.4 
                 81.9 
                 78.95 
                 98.1 
                 82.74 
                 81.17 
               
               
                 104 
                 95.0 
                 81.7 
                 78.61 
                 97.8 
                 82.98 
                 81.15 
               
               
                 120 
                 94.8 
                 82.8 
                 78.49 
                 96.9 
                 82.34 
                 79.79 
               
               
                 136 
                 94.2 
                 81.6 
                 78.77 
                 96.3 
                 83.61 
                 80.52 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     EXAMPLE 6 
     In order to evaluate catalyst performance for the present invention, a study on response capability was performed on Catalyst II, evaluating at LHSV values higher than conventional values for a reforming process, keeping a 450° C. constant temperature. The objective was to view the high potential benefits in using this type of catalyst in the reforming process as well as its flexibility in handling feed without significant loss in activity and selectivity. In parallel, the reference commercial catalyst was evaluated under similar operating conditions but maintaining a conventional 1.6 h −1  LHSV value. Pilot plant evaluations with the reference catalyst required a continuous chlorine adjustment to keep initial concentration levels on the catalyst throughout the test. 
     
       
         
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                 TABLE 7 
               
             
             
               
                   
               
               
                  EVALUATION RESULTS AT PILOT PLANT LEVEL 
               
               
                 TO OBTAIN HIGH OCTANE GASOLINE WITH CATALYST I 
               
               
                 AND COMMERCIAL CATALYST. ACTIVITY AND 
               
               
                 SELECTIVITY TEST WITH LHSV VARIATION. 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Temp, ° C. 
                 RON 
                 C5+ wt % 
                 H2, wt % 
                 R—O 
                 LHSV h-1 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Fresh Catalysts 
               
               
                 Catalyst I 
               
             
          
           
               
                 450 
                 97.5 
                 80.3 
                 0.63 
                 78.29 
                 3.0 
               
               
                 450 
                 97.4 
                 81.4 
                 0.72 
                 79.28 
                 3.5 
               
               
                 450 
                 97.1 
                 81.6 
                 0.77 
                 79.23 
                 4.0 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Commercial Catalyst 
               
             
          
           
               
                 450 
                 87 
                 91.5 
                 1.70 
                 79.61 
                 1.6 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     While several embodiments have been shown to illustrate the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications and changes can be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.