list two kinds of hydrocarbon conversions in catalytic reforming that are mostly responsible for increasing the octane number of heavy naphtha? – thermal reforming with example/reaction -catalytic reforming with example/reaction The Impact of Catalytic Reforming on Increasing the Octane Number of Heavy Naphtha

The Impact of Catalytic Reforming on Increasing the Octane Number of Heavy Naphtha

Catalytic reforming is a process used to upgrade heavy naphtha, which is a byproduct of crude oil refining, into high-octane gasoline. This process is largely responsible for increasing the octane number, which is a measure of antiknock properties. Two kinds of hydrocarbon conversions in catalytic reforming that are mostly responsible for increasing the octane number of heavy naphtha are thermal reforming and catalytic reforming. Thermal reforming is a process in which heavy naphtha is heated to a temperature of around 500°C in the presence of hydrogen. This results in the hydrocarbon molecules being broken into smaller molecules. The main reaction that takes place in this process is the dehydrogenation of paraffin to aromatics and the isomerization of paraffin to iso-paraffins. This results in an increase in the octane number of gasoline (Khan et al., 2016). Catalytic reforming is a process in which heavy naphtha is treated with a catalyst at a temperature of around 470°C. This results in the breaking of some of the hydrocarbon molecules into smaller molecules and the reforming of others. The main reaction that takes place in this process is the dehydrogenation of paraffin to aromatics, the isomerization of paraffin to iso-paraffins, and the polymerization of olefins to. Cont…