Patent ID: 8535448

Claim:
A method of removing a first metal protective layer from a surface of a component of a catalytic reforming reactor comprising: converting at least a portion of a hydrocarbon feed stream to provide aromatic hydrocarbons by contacting the hydrocarbon feed stream with a first reforming catalyst in the catalytic reforming reactor, wherein the hydrocarbon feed and the aromatic hydrocarbons contact the first metal protective layer; removing the first reforming catalyst from the catalytic reforming reactor; treating the first metal protective layer of the component of the catalytic reforming reactor to mobilize at least a portion of the first metal protective layer from the surface of the component of the catalytic reforming reactor; applying a second metal protective layer to the surface of the component of the catalytic reforming reactor, wherein the second metal protective layer is compositionally different from the first metal protective layer; and loading the catalytic reforming reactor with a second reforming catalyst comprising a zeolitic reforming catalyst or a bimetallic reforming catalyst.