challenge since inorganic reagents which are often very active or/and non-volatile can be

invoived. For example for nitration reactions, clayfen, an acid-treated montmorillonite

supported Fe nitrate is a very useful reagent. For the second ones, specific solutions for
each are proposed. Lastly, there is an interesting paragraph on supported phase-transfer
catalysts.
In conclusion, we particularly recommend Prof. Clarks book, as, in relatively few pages,
the essentials of Catalysis of Organic Reactions by Supported Inorganic Reagents are
presented very clearly to the reader,

J. BARRAULT

Poitiers
Accepted 22 November 1994

Book Review
Cata/ytic Naphtha Reforming (Science and Technology), by G.J. Antos, A.M. Aiiani
and J.M. Parera (Editors), Marcel Dekker, New York, NY, 1994, ISBN 0-8247-9236-X,
viii+516 pp., $165.00.
This book provides a comprehensive review of the scientific and technological issues
associated with the use of naphtha reforming catalysts. Its fiieen chapters, by well qualified
authors with diverse backgrounds, are devoted to a better understanding of reforming
catalysts, their preparation, characterization and applications in the petroleum industry.
Naphtha reforming occurs by bifunctional or polyfunctional catalysis which provides the
means to overcome the complex chemistry involved in this process.
The use of catalytic reforming as a process to produce high-octane gasoline continues
to be as important now as it has been over the nearly fii years of its commercial use. The
catalytic reformer occupies a key position in a refinery providing the high value-added
reformate for the gasoline pool, the hydrogen for feedstock improvement, and frequently
producing the benzene, toluene and xylene aromatics for petrochemical uses. This is the
reason for the universal application of catalytic reforming on which the book is focused.
The first part of the book deals with reaction chemistry and mechanisms. The two
chapters by J.M. Parera and N.S. Figoli provide an introduction to the chemistry and
processing of petroleum, with special emphasis on catalytic reforming and gasoline octane
number. The authors review the present-day knowledge of the catalysts and the mechanisms of the reforming reactions by pointing out relevant problems and the numerous
hypotheses suggested for their solution. The sequence of the reforming reactions involves
an interplay between the acidic and metallic functions in the catalysts.
Z. Paal elucidates the important reactions that take place during the reforming process:
reactions that involve the rearrangement of the hydrocarbon skeleton, include aromatization,
isomerization, C&yclization and hydrogenolysis. The first three reactions are desirable;
however, the last one is considered to be disadvantageous to the operation of a reforming
plant.
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The chapters in the second part of the book describe methods of catalyst preparation,
characterization and evaluation and their performance. J.B. Boitiaux, J. M. Deves and CR.
Marcilly review the techniques used in obtaining the optimum catalyst qualities, such as the
choice of support, precursors of the active agent and method of impregnation. The most
recent reforming catalysts contain promoters such as Re, Ir and Sri, together with Pt
supported on high-purity y-alumina. The acidity of the support is adjusted during the
preparation stage and during use by the addition of chlorinated compounds.
The chapter by B.H. Davis and G.J. Antos focuses on catalyst characterization by
chemical analysis, physical property testing and spectroscopy. The characterization of
reforming catalysts involves two topics: a measure of the amount, strength and distribution
of the acid function; and a measure of the amount of activii of the metallic function. For a
very active reforming catalyst, the characterization technique must be applicable where the
dispersion is at an atomic level. For these characterizations, it appears that chemisorption
offers the best characterization capabilities.
S.T. Sie describes several laboratory tests for reforming catalysts which provide data on
catalyst activity, selectivity, as well as stability that are relevant for industrial practice. K.R.
Murthy, N. Sharma and N. George review and correlate the performance of the reforming
catalyst with its surface characteristics such as metal-support interactions, metal-metal
interactions, electronic and ensemble effects, geometric requirements and the effect of
surface modifiers such as sulphur, chlorine, etc. The chapter highlights the effects of various
operating parameters on the maintenance of catalyst activii and selectivity, chloride
injection and chloride moisture balance.
The third part of the book is devoted to a discussion of catalyst deactivation and
regeneration. The chapter by H.J. Lovink on naphtha pretreatment is relevant to the rapidly
changing feedstocks and product specifications. The chapter also reviews the types of
catalysts used in naphtha hydrotreating and briefly describes sulphur-guard beds that are
used in some commercial reformers to maintain low sulphur content. P. Marecot and J.
Barbier review catalyst deactivation by coking. The chapter highlights the modifications of
the characteristics of coke induced by a change of the nature of catalyst and by a change
in experimental conditions. It is obvious that reducing the rate of coke formation would
represent an appreciable improvement, particularly at a time when the production of
lead-free gasoline is requiring more severe operating conditions.
J.N. Beltramini discusses the other two types of catalyst deactivation due to sintering
based on the type of catalytic active sites being affected. Recent improvements in catalyst
formulations and in regeneration have reduced the risk of catalyst sintering during operation.
In another chapter, the same authors describe the several steps used in catalyst regeneration, with emphasis on the elimination of coke by controlled burning. The chapter also
reviews some special regeneration procedures of sulphur-contaminated catalysts. J.P.
Rosso and M.I. Elguindy discuss methods to recover Pt and Re from spent reforming
catalysts. The chapter focuses on spent catalyst handling at the petroleum refinery and at
the precious metal processing facility.
The chapters In the last pan of the book cover the technology, applications and recent
developments in catalytic reforming. A.M. Aiiani reviews and discusses the reforming

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process together with the impact of process changes on the reformer operation and
products, He also gives a description of modern reforming processes with continuous
catalyst regeneration. L.E. Turpin focuses on the techniques and benefiis of modelling
commercial reformers with respect to catalyst performance, product yields, and control and
optimization of the catalytic reforming process. The chapter contains examples of typical
refinery problems that can be easily and accurately solved using a kinetic model of a catalytic
reformer.
S. Sivasanker and P. Ratnasamy review the various improvements that have taken place
during the last three decades with respect to catalyst formulation and processes. The
application of catalytic reforming to produce high octane gasoline has been extended to the
production of aromatics, LPG, hydrogen and upgrading of olefinic feedstocks and raffinates.
The chapter further reviews processes designed specifically for octane improvement and
aromatics production such as CYClAR, M2 forming, Aroforming as well as the processing
of pyrolysis gasoline using zeolite promoted catalysts. The chapter concludes with predictions on what feedstock, process and catalyst changes will be required in the future.
In general, this book succeeds in its objective of providing information not currently
available from one single literature source. However, a chapter focusing exclusively on
product specifications and environmental regulations encountered today might also have
been helpful. The book should be useful to both experienced industrial and university
researchers working in the reforming field.

Dharan

M.A. BARI-SADDIQUI

Accepted 20 November 1994

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