Hydrocarbon Conversion With an Acidic Multimetallic Catalytic Composite

The subject of the present invention is a novel acidic multimetallic catalytic composite which has exceptional activity and resistance to deactivation when employed in a hydrocarbon conversion process that requires a catalyst having both a hydrogenation-dehydrogenation function and a cracking function. More precisely, the present invention involves a novel dual-function acidic multimetallic catalytic composite which quite surprisingly, enables substantial improvements in hydrocarbon conversion processes that have traditionally used a dual-function catalyst. In another aspect, the present invention comprehends the improved processes that are produced by the use of a catalytic composite comprising a combination of catalytically effective amounts of a platinum or palladium component, an iridium component, a nickel component, a Group IV-A metallic component and a halogen component with a porous carrier material; specifically, an improved reforming process which utilizes the subject catalyst to improve activity, selectivity and stability characteristics.

Composites having a hydrogenation-dehydrogenation function and a cracking function are widely used today as catalysts in many industries, such as the petroleum and petrochemical industry, to accelerate a wide spectrum of hydrocarbon conversion reactions. Generally, the cracking function is thought to be associated with an acid-acting material of the porous, adsorptive, refractory oxide type which is typically utilized as the support or carrier for a heavy metal component such as the metals or compounds of metals of Groups V through VIII of the Periodic Table to which are generally attributed the hydrogenation-dehydrogenation function.

These catalytic composites are used to accelerate a wide variety of hydrocarbon conversion reactions such as hydrocracking, isomerization, dehydrogenation, hydrogenation, desulfurization, cyclization, polymerization, alkylation, cracking, hydroisomerization, etc. In many cases, the commercial applications of these catalysts are in processes where more than one of the reactions are proceeding simultaneously. An example of this type of process is reforming wherein a hydrocarbon feed stream containing paraffins and naphtenes is subjected to conditions which promote dehydrogenation of naphthenes to aromatics, dehydrocyclization of paraffins to aromatics, isomerization of paraffins and naphthenes, hydrocracking of naphthenes and paraffins and the like reactions, to produce an octane-rich or aromatic-rich product stream. Another example is a hydrocracking process wherein catalysts of this type are utilized to effect selective hydrogenation and cracking of high molecular weight unsaturated hydrocarbonaceous material, selective hydrocracking of high molecular weight saturated hydrocarbonaceous materials, and other like reactions, to produce a generally lower boiling, more valuable output stream. Yet another example is an isomerization process wherein a hydrocarbon fraction which is relatively rich in straight-chain paraffin components is contacted with a dual-function catalyst to produce an output stream rich in isoparaffin compounds.

Regardless of the reaction involved or the particular process involved, it is of critical importance that the dual-function catalyst exhibit not only the capability to initially perform its specified functions, but also that it has the capability to perform them satisfactorily for prolonged periods of time. The analytical terms used in the art to measure how well a particular catalyst performs its intended functions in a particular hydrocarbon reaction environment are activity, selectivity and stability. And for purposes of discussion here, these terms are conveniently defined for a given charge stock as follows: (1) activity is a measure of the catalyst's ability to convert hydrocarbon reactants into products at a specified severity level where severity level means the conditions used -- that is, the temperature, pressure, contact time, and presence of diluents such as H.sub.2 ; (2) selectivity refers to the amount of desired product or products obtained relative to the amount of reactants charged or converted; (3) stability refers to the rate of change with time of the activity and selectivity parameters -- obviously, the smaller rate implying the more stable catalyst. In a reforming process, for example, activity commonly refers to the amount of conversion that takes place for a given charge stock at a specified severity level and is typically measured by octane number of the C.sub.5 + product stream; selectivity refers to the amount of C.sub.5 + yield relative to the amount of the charge that is obtained at the particular activity or severity level; and stability is typically equated to the rate of change with time of activity, as measured by octane number of C.sub.5 + product, and of selectivity as measured by C.sub.5 + yield. Actually, the last statement is not strictly correct because generally a continuous reforming process is run to produce a constant octane C.sub.5 + product with severity level being continuously adjusted to attain this result; and, furthermore, the severity level is for this process usually varied by adjusting the conversion temperature in the reaction zone so that, in point of fact, the rate of change of activity finds response in the rate of change of conversion temperatures and changes in this last parameter are customarily taken as indicative of activity stability.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, the principal cause of observed deactivation or instability of a dual-function catalyst when it is used in a hydrocarbon conversion reaction is associated with the fact that coke forms on the surface of the catalyst during the course of the reaction. More specifically, in these hydrocarbon conversion processes, the conditions utilized typically result in the formation of heavy, high molecular weight, black, solid or semi-solid carbonaceous material which is a hydrogen-deficient polymeric substance having properties akin to both polynuclear aromatics and graphite. This material coats the surface of the catalyst and thus reduces its activity by shielding its active sites from the reactants. In other words, the performance of this dual-function catalyst is sensitive to the presence of carbonaceous deposites or coke on the surface of the catalyst. Accordingly, the major problem facing workers in this area of the art is the development of more active and selective catalytic composites that are not as sensitive to the presence of these carbonaceous materials and/or have the capability to suppress the rate of the formation of these carbonaceous materials on the catalyst. Viewed in terms of performance parameters, the problem is to develop a dual-function catalyst having superior activity, selectivity, and stability. In particular, for a reforming process the problem is typically expressed in terms of shifting and stabilizing the C.sub.5 + yield to octane relationship -- C.sub.5 + yield being representative of selectivity and octane being proportional to activity.

I have now found a dual-function multimetallic acidic catalyst composite which possesses improved activity, selectivity and stability characteristics when it is employed in a process for the conversion of hydrocarbons of the type which have heretofore utilized dual-function acidic catalytic composites such as processes for isomerization, hydroisomerization, dehydrogenation, desulfurization, denitrogenization, hydrogenation, alkylation, dealkylation, disproportionation, polymerization, hydrodealkylation, transalkylation, cyclization, dehydrocyclization, cracking, hydrocracking, halogenation, reforming and the like processes. In particular, I have ascertained that a catalyst, comprising a combination of catalytically effective amounts of a platinum or palladium component, an iridium component, a nickel component, a Group IV-A metallic component and a halogen component with a porous refractory carrier material, can enable the performance of hydrocarbon conversion processes utilizing dual-function catalysts to be substantially improved if the metallic components are uniformly dispersed throughout the carrier material and if their oxidation states are controlled to be in the states hereinafter specified. Moreover, I have determined, as will be hereinafter demonstrated, that an acidic catalytic component, comprising a combination of catalytically effective amounts of a platinum or palladium component, a nickel component, an iridium component, a Group IV-A metallic component, and a chloride component with an alumina carrier material, can be utilized to substantially improve the performance of a reforming process which operates on a low-octane gasoline fraction to produce a high-octane reformate if the metallic components are uniformly dispersed throughout the alumina carrier material and if their oxidation states are fixed in the states hereinafter specified. In the case of a reforming process, the principal advantage associated with the use of the novel catalyst of the present invention involves the acquisition of the capability to operate in a stable manner in a high severity operation; for example, a low or moderate pressure reforming process designed to produce a C.sub.5 + reformate having an octane of about 100 F-1 clear. As indicated, the present invention essentially involves the finding that the addition of a nickel component and a Group IV-A metallic component to a dual-function acidic hydrocarbon conversion catalyst containing a platinum or palladium component and an iridium component, can enable the performance characteristics of the catalyst to be sharply and materially improved, if the hereinafter specified limitations on amounts of ingredients, oxidation states of metals and distribution of metallic components in the support are met.

It is, accordingly, one object of the present invention to provide a multimetallic hydrocarbon conversion catalyst having superior performance characteristics when utilized in a hydrocarbon conversion process. A second object is to provide a multimetallic catalyst having dual-function hydrocarbon conversion performance characteristics that are relatively insensitive to the deposition of hydrocarbonaceous material thereon. A third object is to provide preferred methods of preparation of this catalytic composite which insures the achievement and maintenance of its properties. Another object is to provide an improved reforming catalyst having superior activity, selectivity and stability. Yet another object is to provide a dual-function hydrocarbon conversion catalyst which utilizes a combination of a nickel component and a Group IV-A metallic component to promote an acidic catalyst containing a platinum or palladium metal component and an iridium component.

In brief summary, the present invention is, in one broad embodiment, a catalytic composite comprising a porous carrier material containing, on an elemental basis, about 0.01 to about 2 weight percent platinum or palladium metal, about 0.01 to about 2 weight percent iridium metal, about 0.01 to about 5 weight percent nickel, about 0.01 to about 5 weight percent Group IV-A metal, and about 0.1 to about 3.5 weight percent halogen, wherein the platinum or palladium, nickel, iridium and Group IV-A metal are uniformly dispersed throughout the porous carrier material and wherein substantially all of the platinum or palladium, nickel, and iridium are present in the corresponding elemental metallic states and wherein substantially all of the Group IV-A metal is present in an oxidation state above that of the corresponding elemental metal.

A second embodiment relates to an especially preferred catalytic composite comprising a porous carrier material containing, on an elemental basis, about 0.01 to about 2 weight percent platinum or palladium metal, about 0.01 to about 2 weight percent iridium metal, about 0.01 to about 5 weight percent nickel, about 0.01 to about 5 weight percent germanium, and about 0.1 to about 3.5 weight percent halogen, wherein the platinum or palladium, nickel, iridium, and germanium are uniformly dispersed throughout the porous carrier material, wherein substantially all of the platinum or palladium, nickel, and iridium are present in the corresponding elemental metallic state and wherein substantially all of the germanium is present in an oxidation state above that of the elemental metal.

Another embodiment relates to a catalytic composite comprising a combination of the catalytic composite described in the first and second embodiment with a sulfur component in an amount sufficient to incorporate about 0.01 to about 1 weight percent sulfur, calculated on an elemental basis.

Yet another embodiment relates to a process for the conversion of a hydrocarbon comprising, contacting the hydrocarbon and hydrogen with the catalytic composite described above in the first or second or third embodiment at hydrocarbon conversion conditions.

A preferred embodiment relates to a process for forming a gasoline fraction which comprises contacting the gasoline fraction and hydrogen with the catalytic composite described above in the first or second or third embodiment at reforming conditions selected to produce a high-octane reformate.

Other objects and embodiments of the present invention relate to additional details regarding catalytic ingredients, preferred amounts of ingredients, suitable methods of composite preparation, operating conditions for use in the hydrocarbon conversion processes, and the like particulars, which are hereinafter given in the following detailed discussion of each of these facets of the present invention.

The multimetallic acidic catalyst of the present invention comprises a porous carrier material or support having combined therewith catalytically effective amounts of a platinum or palladium component, an iridium component, a nickel component, a Group IV-A metallic component, and a halogen component.

Considering first the porous carrier material utilized in the present invention, it is preferred that the material be a porous, adsorptive, high-surface area support having a surface area of about 25 to about 500 m.sup.2 /g. The porous carrier material should be relatively refractory to the conditions utilized in the hydrocarbon conversion process, and it is intended to include within the scope of the present invention carrier materials which have traditionally been utilized in dual-function hydrocarbon conversion catalysts such as: (1) activated carbon, coke or charcoal; (2) silica or silica gel, silicon carbide, clays and silicates including those synthetically prepared and naturally occurring, which may or may not be acid treated, for example, attapulgus clay, china clay, diatomaceous earth, fuller's earth, kaoline kieselguhr, etc., (3) ceramics, porcelain, crushed firebrick, bauxite; (4) refractory inorganic oxides such as alumina, titanium dioxide, zirconium dioxide, chromium oxide, beryllium oxide, vanadium oxide, cesium oxide, hafnium oxide, zinc oxide, magnesia, thoria, boria, silica-alumina, silica magnesia, chromia-alumina, alumina-boria, silica-zirconia, etc.; (5) crystalline zeolitic aluminosilicates such as naturally occurring or synthetically prepared mordenite and/or faujasite, either in the hydrogen form or in a form which has been treated with multivalent cations; (6) spinels such as MgAl.sub.2 O.sub.4, FeAl.sub.2 O.sub.4, ZnAl.sub.2 O.sub.4, MnAl.sub.2 O.sub.4, CaAl.sub.2 O.sub.4, and other like compounds having the formula MO.Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 where M is a metal having a valence of 2; and, (7) combinations of elements from one or more of these groups. The preferred porous carrier materials for use in the present invention are refractory inorganic oxides, with best results obtained with an alumina carrier material. Suitable alumina materials are the crystalline aluminas known as gamma-, eta-, and theta-alumina, with gamma- or eta-alumina giving best results. In addition, in some embodiments the alumina carrier material may contain minor proportions of other well known refractory inorganic oxides such as silica, zirconia, magnesia, etc.; however, the preferred support is substantially pure gamma- or eta-alumina. Preferred carrier materials have an apparent bulk density of about 0.3 to about 0.8 g/cc and surface area characteristics such that the average pore diameter is about 20 to 300 Angstroms, the pore volume is about 0.1 to about 1 cc/g and the surface area is about 100 to about 500 m.sup.2 /g. In general, best results are typically obtained with a gamma-alumina carrier which is used in the form of spherical particles having: a relatively small diameter (i.e., typically about 1/16 inch), an apparent bulk density of about 0.3 to about 0.8 g/cc, a pore volume of about 0.4 ml/g and a surface area of about 200 m.sup.2 /g.

The preferred alumina carrier material may be prepared in any suitable manner and may be synthetically prepared or natural occurring. Whatever type of alumina is employed, it may be activated prior to use by one or more treatments including drying, calcination, steaming, etc., and it may be in a form known as activated alumina, activated alumina of commerce, porous alumina, alumina gel, etc. For example, the alumina carrier may be prepared by adding a suitable alkaline reagent, such as ammonium hydroxide, to a salt of aluminum such as aluminum chloride, aluminum nitrate, etc., in an amount to form an aluminum hydroxide gel which upon drying and calcining is converted to alumina. The alumina carrier may be formed in any desired shape such as spheres, pills, cakes, extrudates, powders, granules, tablets, etc., and utilized in any desired size. For the purpose of the present invention a particularly preferred form of alumina is the sphere; and alumina spheres may be continuously manufactured by the well known oil drop method which comprises; forming an alumina hydrosol by any of the techniques taught in the art and preferably by reacting aluminum metal with hydrochloric acid, combining the resulting hydrosol with a suitable gelling agent and dropping the resultant mixture into an oil bath maintained at elevated temperatures. The droplets of the mixture remain in the oil bath until they set and form hydrogel spheres. The spheres are then continuously withdrawn from the oil bath and typically subjected to specific aging treatments in oil and an ammoniacal solution to further improve their physical characteristics. The resulting aged and gelled particles are then washed and dried at a relatively low temperature of about 300.degree. to about 400.degree.F. and subjected to a calcination procedure at a temperature of about 850.degree. to about 1300.degree. F. for a period of about 1 to about 20 hours. This treatment effects conversion of the alumina hydrogel to the corresponding crystalline gamma-alumina. See the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 2,620,314 for additional details.

One essential ingredient of the present catalytic composite is a nickel component. This component may be present in the composite as an elemental metal, or in chemical compositions with one or more of the other ingredients of the composite or as a chemical compound of nickel such as nickel oxide, sulfide, halide, oxychloride, aluminate, and the like. Best results are obtained when the composite contains substantially all of this component in the elemental state, and the preferred preparation procedure which is given in Example I is believed to result in this condition. The nickel component may be utilized in the composite in any amount which is catalytically effective, with the preferred amount of being about 0.01 to about 5 weight percent thereof, calculated on an elemental nickel basis. Typically, best results are obtained with about 0.05 to about 2 weight percent nickel. It is, additionally, preferred to select the specific amount of nickel from within this broad weight range as a function of the amount of the platinum or palladium component, on an atomic basis, as is explained hereinafter.

The nickel component may be incorporated into the catalytic composite in any suitable manner known to those skilled in the catalyst formulation art. In addition, it may be added at any stage of the preparation of the composite -- either during preparation of the carrier material or thereafter -- since the precise method of incorporation used is not deemed to be critical. However, best results are thought to be obtained when the nickel component is relatively uniformly distributed throughout the carrier material, and the preferred procedures are the ones that are known to result in a composite having a relatively uniform distribution. One acceptable procedure for incorporating this component into the composite involves cogelling the nickel component during the preparation of the preferred carrier material, alumina. This procedure usually comprehends the addition of a soluble, decomposable compound of nickel such as nickel chloride to the alumina hydrosol before it is gelled. The resulting mixture is then finished by conventional gelling, aging, drying, and calcination steps as explained hereinbefore. One preferred way of incorporating this component is an impregnation step wherein the porous carrier material is impregnated with a suitable nickel-containing solution either before, during, or after the carrier material is calcined. Preferred impregnation solutions are aqueous solutions of water-soluble, decomposable nickel compounds such as nickel bromate, nickel bromide, nickel perchlorate, nickel chloride, nickel fluoride, nickel iodide, nickel nitrate, nickel sulfate, hexammine nickel (II) chloride and the like compounds. Best results are ordinarily obtained when the impregnation solution is an aqueous solution of nickel chloride or nickel nitrate. This nickel component can be added to the carrier material, either prior to, simultaneously with, or after the other metallic components are combined therewith. Best results are usually achieved when this component is added simultaneously with the other metallic components. In fact, excellent results are obtained, as reported in the examples, with a one step impregnation procedure using an aqueous solution comprising chloroplatinic acid, nickel chloride, hydrochloric acid, chloroiridic acid and germanium tetrachloride dissolved in anhydrous alcohol.

A second essential ingredient of the subject catalyst is the platinum or palladium component. That is, it is intended to cover the use of platinum or palladium or mixtures thereof as a second component of the present composite. It is an essential feature of the present invention that substantially all of this platinum or palladium component exists within the final catalytic composite in the elemental metallic state. Generally, the amount of this component present in the final catalyst composite is small compared to the quantities of the other components combined therewith. In fact, the platinum or palladium component generally will comprise about 0.01 to about 2 weight percent of the final catalytic composite, calculated on an elemental basis. Excellent results are obtained when the catalyst contains about 0.05 to about 1 weight percent of platinum or palladium metal.

This platinum or palladium component may be incorporated in the catalytic composite in any suitable manner known to result in a relatively uniform distribution of this component in the carrier material such as coprecipitation or cogellation, ion exchange or impregnation. The preferred method of preparing the catalyst involves the utilization of a soluble, decomposable compound of platinum or palladium to impregnate the carrier material in a relatively uniform manner. For example, this component may be added to the support by commingling the latter with an aqueous solution of chloroplatinic or chloropalladic acid. Other water-soluble compounds of platinum or palladium may be employed in impregnation solutions and include ammonium chloroplatinate, bromoplatinic acid, platinum trichloride, platinum tetrachloride hydrate, platinum dichlorocarbonyl dichloride, dinitrodiaminoplatinum, sodium tetranitroplatinate (II), palladium chloride, palladium nitrate, palladium sulfate, diamminepalladium (II) hydroxide, tetramminepalladium (II) chloride, etc. The utilization of a platinum or palladium chloride compound, such as chloroplatinic or chloropalladic acid, is preferred since it facilitates the incorporation of both the platinum or palladium component and at least a minor quantity of the halogen component in a single step. Hydrogen chloride or the like acid is also generally added to the impregnation solution in order to further facilitate the incorporation of the halogen component and the uniform distribution of the metallic components throughout the carrier material. In addition, it is generally preferred to impregnate the carrier material after it has been calcined or oxidized in order to minimize the risk of washing away the valuable platinum or palladium compounds; however, in some cases it may be advantageous to impregnate the carrier material when it is in a gelled state.

Yet another essential ingredient of the present catalytic composite is an iridium component. It is of fundamental importance that substantially all of the iridium component exists within the catalytic composite of the present invention in the elemental state and the subsequently described reduction procedure is designed to accomplish this objective. The iridium component may be utilized in the composite in any amount which is catalytically effective, with the preferred amount being about 0.01 to about 2 weight percent thereof, calculated on an elemental iridium basis. Typically, best results are obtained with about 0.05 to about 1 weight percent iridium. It is, additionally, preferred to select the specific amount of iridium from within this broad weight range as a function of the amount of the platinum or palladium component, on an atomic basis, as is explained hereinafter.

This iridium component may be incorporated into the catalytic composite in any suitable manner known to those skilled in the catalyst formulation art which results in a relatively uniform dispersion of iridium in the carrier material. In addition, it may be added at any stage of the preparation of the composite--either during preparation of the carrier material or thereafter--and the precise method of incorporation used is not deemed to be critical. However, best results are thought to be obtained when the iridium component is relatively uniformly distributed throughout the carrier material, and the preferred procedures are the ones known to result in a composite having this relatively uniform distribution. One acceptable procedure for incorporating this component into the composite involves cogelling or coprecipitating the iridium component during the preparation of the preferred carrier material, alumina. This procedure usually comprehends the addition of a soluble, decomposable compound of iridium such as iridium tetrachloride to the alumina hydrosol before it is gelled. The resulting mixture is then finished by conventional gelling, aging, drying, and calcination steps as explained hereinbefore. A preferred way of incorporating this component is an impregnation step wherein the porous carrier material is impregnated with a suitable iridium-containing solution either before, during, or after the carrier material is calcined. Preferred impregnation solutions are aqueous solutions of water soluble, decomposable iridium compounds, such as iridium tribromide, iridium dichloride, iridium tetrachloride, iridium oxalic acid, iridium sulfate, potassium iridochloride, chloroirific acid, sodium hexanitroiridate (III), and the like compounds. Best results are ordinarily obtained when the impregnation solution is an aqueous solution of chloroiridic acid or sodium chloroiridate. This component can be added to the carrier material, either prior to, simultaneously with, or after the other metallic components are combined therewith. Best results are usually achieved when this component is added simultaneously with the other metallic components. In fact, excellent results are obtained, as reported in the examples, with a one step impregnation procedure using an aqueous solution comprising chloroplatinic or chloropalladic acid, chloroirific acid, nickel chloride hydrochloric acid, and germanium tetrachloride dissolved in anhydrous alcohol.

It is essential to incorporate a halogen component into the multimetallic catalytic composite of the present invention. Although the precise form of the chemistry of the association of the halogen component with the carrier material is not entirely known, it is customary in the art to refer to the halogen component as being combined with the carrier material, or with the other ingredients of the catalyst in the form of the halide (e.g., as the chloride). This combined halogen may be either fluorine, chlorine, iodine, bromine, or mixtures thereof. Of these, fluorine and, particularly, chlorine are preferred for the purposes of the present invention. The halogen may be added to the carrier material in any suitable manner, either during preparation of the support or before or after the addition of the other components. For example, the halogen may be added, at any stage of the preparation of the carrier material or to the calcined carrier material, as an aqueous solution of a suitable, decomposable halogen-containing compound such as hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen bromide, ammonium chloride, etc. The halogen component or a portion thereof, may be combined with the carrier material during the impregnation of the latter with one or more of the metallic components; for example in the case of the platinum component, through the utilization of a mixture of chloroplatinic acid and hydrogen chloride. In another situation, the alumina hydrosol which is typically utilized to form the preferred alumina carrier material may contain halogen and thus contribute at least a portion of the halogen component to the final composite. For reforming, the halogen will be typically combined with the carrier material in an amount sufficient to result in a final composite that contains about 0.1 to about 3.5%, and preferably about 0.5 to about 1.5% by weight of halogen, calculated on an elemental basis. In isomerization or hydrocracking embodiments, it is generally preferred to utilize relatively larger amounts of halogen in the catalyst--typically, ranging up to about 10 weight percent halogen calculated on an elemental basis, and more preferably about 1 to about 5 weight percent. It is to be understood that the specified level of halogen component in the instant catalyst can be achieved or maintained during use in the conversion of hydrocarbons by continuously or periodically adding to the reaction zone a decomposable halogen-containing compound such as an organic chloride (e.g., ethylene dichloride, carbon tetrachloride, t-butyl chloride) in an amount of about 1 to 100 weight ppm. of the hydrocarbon feed, and preferably about 1 to 10 weight ppm.

Another essential constituent of the instant multimetallic catalytic composite is a Group IV-A metallic component. By the use of the generic term "Group IV-A metallic component" it is intended to cover the metals of Group IV-A of the Periodic Table. More specifically, it is intended to cover: germanium, tin, lead, and mixtures of these metals. It is essential that substantially all of the Group IV-A metallic component is present in the final catalyst in an oxidation state above that of the elemental metal. In other words, this component may be present in chemical combination with one or more of the other ingredients of the composite, or as a chemical compound of the Group IV-A metal such as the oxide, sulfide, halide, oxyhalide, oxychloride, aluminate, and the like compounds. Based on the evidence currently available, it is believed that best results are obtained when substantially all of the Group IV-A metallic component exists in the final composite in the form of the corresponding oxide such as the tin oxide, germanium oxide, and lead oxide, and the subsequently described oxidation and reduction steps, that are preferably used in the preparation of the instant composite, are believed to result in a catalytic composite which contains an oxide of the Group IV-A metallic component. Regardless of the state in which this component exists in the composite, it can be utilized therein in any amount which is catalytically effective, with the preferred amount being about 0.01 to about 5 weight percent thereof, calculated on an elemental basis and the most preferred amount being about 0.05 to about 2 weight percent. The exact amount selected within this broad range is preferably determined as a function of the particular Group IV-A metal that is utilized. For instance, in the case where this component is lead, it is preferred to select the amount of this component from the low end of this range--namely, about 0.01 to about 1 weight percent. Additionally, it is preferred to select the amount of lead as a function of the amount of the platinum group conponent as explained hereinafter. In the case where this component is tin, it is preferred to select from a relatively broader range of about 0.05 to about 2 weight percent thereof. And, in the preferred case, where this component is germanium the selection can be made from the full breadth of the stated range--specifically, about 0.01 to about 5 weight percent, with best results at about 0.05 to about 2 weight percent.

This Group IV-A component may be incorporated in the composite in any suitable manner known to the art to result in a uniform dispersion of the Group IV-A moiety throughout the carrier material such as, coprecipitation or cogellation with the porous carrier material, ion exchange with the carrier material, or impregnation of the carrier material at any stage in its preparation. It is to be noted that it is intended to include within the scope of the present invention all conventional procedures for incorporating a metallic component in a catalytic composite, and the particular method of incorporation used is not deemed to be an essential feature of the present invention so long as the Group IV-A component is uniformly distributed throughout the porous carrier material. One acceptable method of incorporating the Group IV-A component into the catalytic composite involves cogelling the Group IV-A component during the preparation of the preferred carrier material, alumina. This method typically involves the addition of a suitable soluble compound of the Group IV-A metal of interest to the alumina hydrosol. The resulting mixture is then commingled with a suitable gelling agent, such as a relatively weak alkaline reagent, and the resulting mixture is thereafter preferably gelled by dropping into a hot oil bath as explained hereinbefore. After aging, drying, and calcining the resulting particles, there is obtained an intimate combination of the oxide of the Group IV-A metal and alumina. One preferred method of incorporating this component into the composite involves utilization of a soluble decomposable compound of the particular Group IV-A metal of interest to impregnate the porous carrier material either before, during, or after the carrier material is calcined. In general, the solvent used during this impregnation step is selected on the basis of its capability to dissolve the desired Group IV-A compound without effecting the porous carrier material which is to be impregnated; ordinarily, good results are obtained when water is the solvent; thus the preferred Group IV-A compound for use in this impregnation step are typically water-soluble and decomposable. Examples of suitable Group IV-A compounds are: germanium difluoride, germanium tetralkoxide, germanium dioxide, germanium tetrafluoride, germanium monosulfide, tin chloride, tin bromide, tin dibromide di-iodide, tin dichloride di-iodide, tin chromate, tin difluoride, tin-tetraiodide, tin sulfate, tin tartrate, lead acetate, lead bromate, lead bromide, lead chlorate, lead chloride, lead citrate, lead formate, lead lactate, lead malate, lead nitrate, lead nitrite, lead dithionate, and the like compounds. In the case where the Group IV-A component is germanium, a preferred impregnation solution is germanium tetrachloride dissolved in anhydrous alcohol. In the case of tin, tin chloride dissolved in water is preferred. In the case of lead, lead nitrate dissolved in water is preferred. Regardless of which impregnation solution is utilized, the Group IV-A component can be impregnated either prior to, simultaneously with, or after the other metallic components are added to the carrier material. Ordinarily, best results are obtained when this component is impregnated simultaneously with the other metallic components of the composite. Likewise, best results are ordinarily obtained when the Group IV-A component is germanium oxide or tin oxide.

Regardless of which Group IV-A compound is used in the preferred impregnation step, it is essential that the Group IV-A metallic component be uniformly distributed throughout the carrier material. In order to achieve this objective when this component is incorporated by impregnation, it is necessary to maintain the pH of the impregnation solution at a relatively low level corresponding to about 7 to about 1 or less and to dilute the impregnation solution to a volume which is at least approximately the same or greater than the void volume of the carrier material which is impregnated. It is preferred to use a volume ratio of impregnation solution to void volume of carrier material of at least 1:1 and preferably about 2:1 to about 10:1 or more. Similarly, it is preferred to use a relatively long contact time during the impregnation step ranging from about one fourth hour up to about one half hour or more before drying to remove excess solvent in order to insure a high dispersion of the Group IV-A metallic component in the carrier material. The carrier material is, likewise, preferably constantly agitated during this preferred impregnation step.

Regarding the preferred amounts of the various metallic components of the subject catalyst, I have found it to be a good practice to specify the amounts of the iridium, nickel, and the Group IV-A metallic components as a function of the amount of the platinum or palladium component. On this basis, the amount of the iridium component is ordinarily selected so that the atomic ratio of iridium to platinum or palladium metal contained in the composite is about 0.1:1 to about 2:1, with the preferred range being about 0.25:1 to about 1.5:1. Similarly, the amount of the nickel component is ordinarily selected to produce a composite containing an atomic ratio of nickel to platinum or palladium metal of about 0.2:1 to about 20:1, with the preferred range being about 1:1 to about 10:1. The amount of preferred Group IV-A metallic component is likewise selected so that the atomic ratio of Group IV-A metal to platinum or palladium is 0.05:1 to about 10:1, with best results obtained when this ratio is fixed on the basis of the individual Group IV-A species as follows:

1. For germanium, it is about 0.3:1 to about 10:1 and most preferably about 0.6:1 to 6:1.

2. For tin, it is about 0.1:1 to 3:1 and most preferably about 0.5:1 to 1.5:1.

3. For lead, it is about 0.05:1 to 0.9:1 and most preferably about 0.1:1 to 0.75:1.

Another significant parameter for the instant catalyst is the "total metals content" which is defined to be the sum of the platinum or palladium component, the iridium component, the nickel component, and the Group IV-A metallic component, calculated on an elemental basis. Good results are ordinarily obtained with the subject catalyst when this parameter is fixed at a value of about 0.15 to about 5 weight percent, with best results ordinarily achieved at a metals loading of about 0.3 to about 4 weight percent.

In embodiments of the present invention wherein the instant multimetallic catalytic composite is used for dehydrogenation of dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons or for the hydrogenation of hydrogenatable hydrocarbons, it is ordinarily a preferred practice to include an alkali or alkaline earth metal component in the composite. More precisely, this optional component is selected from the group consisting of the compounds of the alkali metals--cesium, rubidium, potassium, sodium, and lithium--and the compounds of the alkaline earth metals--calcium, strontium, barium, and magnesium. Generally, good results are obtained in these embodiments when this component constitutes about 0.1 to about 5 weight percent of the composite, calculated on an elemental basis. This optional alkali or alkaline earth metal component can be incorporated in the composite in any of the known ways, with impregnation with an aqueous solution of a suitable water-soluble, decomposable compound being preferred.

An optional ingredient for the multimetallic catalyst of the present invention is a Friedel-Crafts metal halide component. This ingredient is particularly useful in hydrocarbon conversion embodiments of the present invention wherein it is preferred that the catalyst utilized has a strong acid or cracking function associated therewith--for example, an embodiment wherein hydrocarbons are to be hydrocracked or isomerized with the catalyst of the present invention. Suitable metal halides of the Friedel-Crafts type include aluminum chloride, aluminum bromide, ferric chloride, ferric bromide, zinc chloride, and the like compounds with the aluminum halides and particularly aluminum chloride ordinarily yielding best results. Generally, this optional ingredient can be incorporated into the composite of the present invention by any of the conventional methods for adding metallic halides of this type; however, best results are ordinarily obtained when the metallic halide is sublimed onto the surface of the carrier material according to the preferred method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,999,074. The component can generally be utilized in any amount which is catalytically effective, with a value selected from the range of about 1 to about 100 weight percent of the carrier material generally being preferred.

Regardless of the details of how the components of the catalyst are combined with the porous carrier material, the final catalyst generally will be dried at a temperature of about 200.degree. to about 600.degree.F. for a period of at least about 2 to about 24 hours or more, and finally calcined or oxidized at a temperature of about 700.degree. to about 1100.degree. F. in an air or oxygen atmosphere for a period of about 0.5 to about 10 hours in order to convert substantially all of the metallic components to the oxide form. Because a halogen component is utilized in the catalyst, best results are generally obtained when the halogen content of the catalyst is adjusted during the oxidation step by including a halogen, hydrogen halide, or a halogen-containing compound which decomposes to yield a hydrogen halide in the air or oxygen atmosphere utilized. In particular, when the halogen component of the catalyst is chlorine, it is preferred to use a mole ratio of H.sub.2 O to HCl of about 5:1 to about 100:1 during at least a portion of the calcination step in order to adjust the final chlorine content of the catalyst to a range of about 0.1 to about 3.5 weight percent.

It is an essential feature of the present invention that the resultant oxidized catalytic composite is subjected to a substantially water-free and hydrocarbon-free reduction step prior to its use in the conversion of hydrocarbon. This step is designed to selectively reduce the platinum or palladium, iridium, and nickel components to the corresponding metals and to insure a uniform and finely divided dispersion of these metallic components throughout the carrier material, while maintaining the Group IV-A metallic component in a positive oxidation state. Preferably, substantially pure and dry hydrogen (i.e., less than 20 vol. ppm. H.sub.2 O) is used as the reducing agent in this step. The reducing agent is contacted with the oxidized catalyst at conditions including a temperature of about 800.degree. to about 1200.degree. F. and a period of time of about 0.5 to 10 hours effective to reduce substantially all of the platinum or palladium, nickel, and iridium components to their elemental metallic state while maintaining the preferred Group IV-A component in an oxidation state above that of the elemental metal. This reduction treatment may be performed in situ as part of a start-up sequence if precautions are taken to predry the plant to a substantially water-free state and if substantially water-free and hydrocarbon-free hydrogen is used.

The resulting reduced catalytic composite may, in some cases, be beneficially subjected to a presulfiding operation with a sulfiding reagent designed to incorporate in the catalytic composite about 0.01 to 1, and most preferably about 0.05 to 0.5 weight percent sulfur, calculated on an elemental basis. Preferably, this presulfiding treatment takes place in the presence of hydrogen and a suitable sulfur-containing decomposable sulfiding reagent such as hydrogen sulfide, lower molecular weight mercaptans, organic sulfides, etc. Typically, this procedure comprises treating the selectively reduced catalyst with a sulfiding gas such as a mixture of hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide having about 10 moles of hydrogen per mole of hydrogen sulfide at conditions sufficient to effect the desired incorporation of sulfur, generally including a temperature ranging from about 50.degree. up to about 1100.degree. F. or more. It is generally a good practice to perform this presulfiding step under substantially water-free conditions. It is within the scope of the present invention to maintain or achieve the sulfided state of the instant catalyst during use in the conversion of hydrocarbons by continuously or periodically adding a decomposable sulfur-containing compound, such as the ones previously mentioned, to the reactor containing the catalyst in an amount sufficient to provide about 1 to 500 weight ppm., preferably 1 to 20 weight ppm. of sulfur based on hydrocarbon charge.

According to the present invention, a hydrocarbon charge stock and hydrogen are contacted with the multimetallic catalyst of the type described above in a hydrocarbon conversion zone. This contacting may be accomplished by using the catalyst in a fixed bed system, a moving bed system, a fluidizied bed system, or in a batch type operation; however, in view of the danger of attrition losses of the valuable catalyst and of well known operational advantages, it is preferred to use a fixed bed system. In this system, a hydrogen-rich gas and the charge stock are preheated by any suitable heating means to the desired reaction temperature and then are passed into a conversion zone containing a fixed bed of the catalyst type previously characterized. It is, of course, understood that the conversion zone may be one or more separate reactors with suitable means therebetween to insure that the desired conversion temperture is maintained at the entrance to each reactor. It is also important to note that the reactants may be contacted with the catalyst bed in either upward, downward, or radial flow fashion with the later being preferred. In addition, the reactants may be in the liquid phase, a mixed liquid-vapor phase, or a vapor phase when they contact the catalyst, with best results obtained in the vapor phase.

In the case where the multimetallic catalyst of the present invention is used in a reforming operation, the reforming system will comprise a reforming zone containing a fixed or moving bed of the catalyst type previously characterized. This reforming zone may be one or more separate reactors with suitable heating means therebetween to compensate for the endothermic nature of the reactions that take place in each catalyst bed. The hydrocarbon feed stream that is charged to this reforming system will comprise hydrocarbon fractions containing naphthenes and paraffins that boil within the gasoline range. The preferred charge stocks are those consisting essentially of naphthenes and paraffins, although in some cases aromatics and/or olefins may also be present. This preferred class includes straight run gasolines, natural gasolines, synthetic gasolines and the like. On the other hand, it is frequently advantageous to charge thermally or catalytically cracked gasolines or higher boiling fractions thereof. Mixtures of straight run and cracked gasolines can also be used to advantage. The gasoline charge stock may be a full boiling gasoline having an initial boiling point from about 50.degree. to about 150.degree. F. and an end boiling point within the range of from about 325.degree. to about 425.degree. F., or may be a selected fraction thereof which generally will be a higher boiling fraction commonly referred to as a heavy naphtha--for example, a naphtha boiling in the range of C.sub.7 to 400.degree. F. In some cases, it is also advantageous to charge pure hydrocarbons or mixtures of hydrocarbons that have been extracted from hydrocarbon distillates--for example, straight-chain paraffins--which are to be converted to aromatics. It is preferred that these charge stocks be treated by conventional catalytic pretreatment methods such as hydrorefining, hydrotreating, hydrodesulfurization, etc., to remove substantially all sulfurous, nitrogenous and water-yielding contaminants therefrom and to saturate any olefins that may be contained therein.

The multimetallic catalyst of the present invention can also be used in a process for the steam-reforming of a hydrocarbon charge stock to make a methane-rich gas having a relatively high heating value. The charge stock used in this embodiment is ordinarily a light, normally gaseous hydrocarbon, such as ethane, propane, or butane, or a light hydrocarbon distillate such as a gasoline boiling range fraction containing C.sub.5 to C.sub.10 hydrocarbons. The charge stock is preferably substantially free of sulfur; that is, less than 10 weight ppm. sulfur and preferably less than 1 weight ppm. sulfur. In this embodiment, the instant multimetallic catalyst is preferably augmented with an alkali or alkaline earth metal component as previously described and preferably contains a relatively large amount of the nickel component (i.e., about 1 to 25 weight percent). According to this embodiment of the present invention, the hydrocarbon charge stock and steam, in an amount sufficient to provide about 1 to about 10 pounds of steam per pound of charge (preferably about 1:1 to 6:1), are contacted with the modified catalyst of the present invention at steam-reforming conditions selected to produce a methane-containing product gas stream. Generally, the steam reforming conditions used include: (1) a temperature of about 800.degree. to 1500.degree. F. and preferably about 825.degree. to 1000.degree. F.; (2) a pressure of about 100 to 2000 psig. and preferably about 150 to about 500 psig; and (3) a liquid hourly space velocity of about 0.5 to about 50 hr..sup.-.sup.1 and preferably about 1 to about 10 hr..sup.-.sup.1 .

In other hydrocarbon conversion embodiments, the charge stock will be of the conventional type customarily used for the particular kind of hydrocarbon conversion being effected. For example, in a typical isomerization embodiment the charge stock can be a paraffinic stock rich in C.sub.4 to C.sub.8 normal paraffins, or a normal butane- or pentane-rich stock, or a n-hexane-rich stock, or a mixture of xylene isomers, etc. In a dehydrogenation embodiment, the charge stock can be any of the known dehydrogenatable hydrocarbons such as an aliphatic compound containing 2 to 30 carbon atoms per molecule, a C.sub.4 to C.sub.30 normal paraffin, a C.sub.8 to C.sub.12 alkylaromatic, a naphthene and the like. In hydrocracking embodiments, the charge stock will be typically a gas oil, heavy cracked cycle oil, etc. In addition, alkylaromatic and naphthenes can be conveniently isomerized by using the catalyst of the present invention. Likewise, pure hydrocarbons or substantially pure hydrocarbons can be converted to more valuable products by using the multimetallic catalyst of the present invention in any of the hydrocarbon conversion processes, known to the art, that use a dual-function catalyst.

In a reforming embodiment, it is generally preferred to utilize the novel multimetallic catalytic composite in a substantially water-free environment. Essential to the achievement of this condition in the reforming zone is the control of the water level present in the charge stock and the hydrogen stream which is being charged to the zone. Best results are ordinarily obtained when the total amount of water entering the conversion zone from any source is held to a level less than 50 ppm. and preferably less than 20 ppm. expressed as weight of equivalent water in the charge stock. In general, this can be accomplished by careful control of the water present in the charge stock and in the hydrogen stream. The charge stock can be dried by using any suitable drying means known to the art such as a conventional solid adsorbent having a high selectivity for water, for instance, sodium or calcium crystalline aluminosilicates, silica gel, activated alumina, molecular sieves, anhydrous calcium sulfate, high surface area sodium and the like adsorbents. Similarly, the water content of the charge stock may be adjusted by suitable stripping operations in a fractionation column or like device. And in some cases, a combination of adsorbent drying and distillation drying may be used advantageously to effect almost complete removal of water from the charge stock. Preferably, the charge stock is dried to a level corresponding to less than 20 ppm. of H.sub.2 O equivalent. In general, it is preferred to maintain the hydrogen stream entering the hydrocarbon conversion zone at a level of about 10 vol. ppm. of water or less. If the water level in the hydrogen stream is too high, drying of same can be conveniently accomplished by contacting the hydrogen stream with a suitable desiccant such as those mentioned above.

In the reforming embodiment, an effluent stream is withdrawn from the reforming zone and passed through a cooling means to a separation zone, typically maintained at about 25.degree. to 150.degree. F., wherein a hydrogen-rich gas is separated from a high octane liquid product, commonly called an unstabilized reformate. When a super-dry operation is desired, at least a portion of this hydrogen-rich gas is withdrawn from the separating zone and passed through an adsorption zone containing an adsorbent selective for water. The resultant substantially water-free hydrogen stream can then be recycled through suitable compressing means back to the reforming zone. The liquid phase from the separating zone is typically withdrawn and commonly treated in a fractionating system in order to adjust the butane concentration, thereby controlling front-end volatility of the resulting reformate.

The conditions utlized in the numerous hydrocarbon conversion embodiments of the present invention are those customarily used in the art for the particular reaction, or combination of reactions, that is to be effected. For instance, alkylaromatic and paraffin isomerization conditions include: a temperature of about 32.degree. to about 1000.degree. F., and preferably from about 75.degree. to about 600.degree. F.; a pressure of atmospheric to about 100 atmospheres; a hydrogen to hydrocarbon mole ratio of about 0.5:1 to about 20:1 and an LHSV (calculated on the basis of equivalent liquid volume of the charge stock contacted with the catalyst per hour divided by the volume of 0.2 zone containing catalyst) of about 0.2 to 10 hr..sup.-.sup.1. Dehydrogenation conditions include: a temperature of about 700.degree. to about 1250.degree. F., a pressure of about 0.1 to about 10 atmospheres, a liquid hourly space velocity of about 1 to 40 hr..sup.-.sup.1 , and a hydrogen to hydrocarbon mole ratio of about 1:1 to 20:1. Likewise, typically hydrocracking conditions include: a pressure of about 500 psig. to about 3000 psig., a temperature of about 400.degree. F. to about 900.degree. F., an LHSV of about 0.1 to about 10 hr..sup..sup.-1, and hydrogen circulation rates of about 1000 to 10,000 SCF per barrel of charge.

In the reforming embodiment of the present invention the pressure utilized is selected from the range of about 0 to about 1000 psig., with the preferred pressure being about 50 to about 600 psig. Particularly good results are obtained at a moderate pressure; namely, a pressure of about 100 to 450 psig. In fact, it is a singular advantage of the present invention that it allows stable operation at lower pressures than have heretofore been successfully utilized in so-called "continuous" reforming systems (i.e., reforming for periods of about 15 to about 200 or more barrels of charge per pound of catalyst without regeneration) with all platinum monometallic catalysts. In other words, the multimetallic catalyst of the present invention allows the operation of a continuous reforming system to be conducted at lower pressure (i.e., 100 to about 350 psig.) for about the same or better catalyst life before regeneration as has been heretofore realized with conventional monometallic catalysts at higher pressures (i.e., 400 to 600 psig.). On the other hand, the stability feature of the present invention enables reforming operations conducted at pressures of 400 to 600 psig. to achieve substantially increased catalyst life before regeneration.

Similarly, the temperature required for reforming is generally lower than that required for a similar reforming operation using a high quality catalyst of the prior art. This significant and desirable feature of the present invention is a consequence of the selectivity of the multimetallic catalyst of the present invention for the octane-upgrading reactions that are preferably induced in a typical reforming operation. Hence, the present invention requires a temperature in the range of from about 800.degree. to about 1100.degree. F. and preferably about 900.degree. to about 1050.degree. F. As is well known to those skilled in the continuous reforming art, the initial selection of the temperature within this broad range is made primarily as a function of the desired octane of the product reformate considering the characteristics of the charge stock and of the catalyst. Ordinarily, the temperature then is thereafter slowly increased during the run to compensate for the inevitable deactivation that occurs to provide a constant octane product. Therefore, it is a feature of the present invention that the rate at which the temperature is increased in order to maintain a constant octane product, is substantially lower for the catalyst of the present invention than for a high quality reforming platinum- and iridium-containing catalyst which is manufactured in exactly the same manner as the catalyst of the present invention except for the inclusion of the Group IV-A metallic aand nickel components. Moreover, for the catalyst of the present invention, the C.sub.5 + yield loss for a given temperature increase is substantially lower than for a high quality reforming catalyst of the prior art. In addition, hydrogen production is substantially higher.

The reforming embodiment of the present invention also typically utilizes sufficient hydrogen to provide an amount of about 1 to about 20 moles of hydrogen per mole of hydrocarbon entering the reforming zone, with excellent results being obtained when about 5 to about 10 moles of hydrogen are used per mole of hydrocarbon. Likewise, the liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV) used in reforming is selected from the range of about 0.1 to about 10 hr..sup. .sup.-1, with a value in the range of about 1 to about 5 hr..sup..sup.-1 being preferred. In fact, it is a feature of the present invention that it allows operations to be conducted at a higher LHSV than normally can be stably achieved in a continuous reforming process with a high quality reforming catalyst of the prior art. This last feature is of immense economic significance because it allows a continuous reforming process to operate at the same throughput level with less catalyst inventory than that heretofore used with convention reforming catalysts at no sacrifice in catalyst life before regeneration.

The following working examples are given to illustrate further the preparation of the multimetallic catalyst composite of the present invention and the use thereof in the conversion of hydrocarbons. It is understood that the examples are intended to be illustrative rather than restrictive.

An alumina carrier material comprising 1/16 inch spheres is prepared by: forming an aluminum hydroxyl chloride sol by dissolving substantially pure aluminum pellets in a hydrochloric acid solution, adding hexamethylenetetramine to the resulting sol, gelling the resulting solution by dropping it into an oil bath to form spherical particles of an aluminum hydrogel, aging and washing the resulting particles and finally drying and calcining the aged and washed particles to form spherical particles of gamma-alumina containing about 0.3 weight percent combined chloride. Additional details as to this method of preparing the preferred carrier material are given in the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 2,620,314.

A measured amount of germanium tetrachloride is dissolved in anhydrous ethanol. The resulting solution is then aged at room temperature until an equlibrium condition is established therein. An aqueous solution containing chloroplatinic acid, chloroiridic acid, nickel chloride, and hydrogen chloride is then prepared. The two solutions are then intimately admixed and used to impregnate the gamma-alumina particles in amounts, respectively, calculated to result in a final composite containing, on an elemental basis, 0.375 weight percent platinum, 0.25 weight percent iridium, 0.25 weight percent nickel, and 0.5 weight percent germanium. In order to insure uniform distribution of the metallic components throughout the carrier material, the amount of hydrogen chloride corresponds to about 2 weight percent of the alumina particles. This impregnation step is performed by adding the carrier material particles to the impregnation mixture with constant agitation. In addition, the volume of the solution is approximately the same as the void volume of the carrier material particles. The impregnation mixture is maintained in contact with the carrier material particles for a period of about one half hour at a temperature of about 70.degree. F. The temperature of the impregnation mixture is subsequently raised to about 225.degree. F. and the excess solution is evaporated in a period of about 1 hour. The resulting dried particles are then subjected to a calcination or oxidation in a steam of dry air treatment at a temperature of about 975.degree. F. and a GHSV of about 500 hr..sup. .sup.-1 for about 1 hour. The oxidized spheres are then contacted with an air stream containing H.sub.2 O and HCl in a mole ratio of about 40:1 for about 2 hours at 975.degree. F. in order to adjust the halogen content of the catalyst particles to a value of about 0.90. The resulting oxidized and halogen treated catalyst particles are hereafter subjected to another treatment with a dry air stream at 975.degree. F. and a GHSV of 500 hr..sup. .sup.-1 for an additional period of about one half hour.

The resulting catalyst particles are analyzed and found to contain, on an elemental basis, about 0.375 weight percent platinum, about 0.25 weight percent iridium, about 0.25 weight percent nickel, about 0.5 weight percent germanium, and about 0.9 weight percent chloride. For this catalyst, the atomic ratio of germanium to platinum is 3.58:1, the atomic ratio of iridium to platinum is 0.68:1 and the atomic ratio of nickel to platinum is 2.22:1.

Thereafter, the catalyst particles are subjected to a dry prereduction treatment designed to reduce the platinum, nickel, and iridium components to the elemental metallic state while maintaining the germanium component in a positive oxidation state by contacting them for 1 hour with a substantially pure hydrogen stream containing less than 5 vol. ppm. H.sub.2 O at a temperature of about 1050.degree.F., a pressure slightly above atmospheric and a flow rate of the hydrogen stream through the catalyst particles corresponding to a gas hourly space velocity of about 400 hr..sup..sup.-1.

A portion of the spherical multimetallic catalyst particles produced by the method described in Example I is loaded into a scale model of a continuous, fixed bed reforming plant of conventional design. In this plant a heavy Kuwait naphtha and hydrogen are continuously contacted at reforming conditions: a liquid hourly space velocity of 1.5 hr..sup. .sup.-1, a pressure of 100 psig., a hydrogen to hydrocarbon mole ratio of 8:1, and a temperature sufficient to continuously produce a C.sub.5 + reformate of 102 F-1 clear. It is to be noted that these are exceptionally severe conditions.

The heavy Kuwait naphtha has an API gravity at 60.degree.F. of 60.4, an initial boiling point of 184.degree. F., a 50% boiling point of 256.degree. F., and an end boiling point of 360.degree. F. In addition, it contains about 8 vol. % aromatics, 71 vol. % paraffins, 21 vol. % naphthenes, 0.5 weight parts per million sulfur, and 5 to 8 weight parts per million water. The F-1 clear octane number of the raw stock is 40.0.

The fixed bed reforming plant is made up of a reactor containing the multimetallic catalyst, a hydrogen separation zone, a debutanizer column, and suitable heating, pumping, cooling, and controlling means. In this plant, a hydrogen recycle stream and the charge stock are commingled and heated to the desired temperature. The resultant mixture is then passed downflow into a reactor containing the catalyst as a fixed bed. An effluent stream is then withdrawn from the bottom of the reactor, cooled to about 55.degree. F. and passed to a separating zone wherein a hydrogen-rich gaseous phase separates from a liquid hydrocarbon phase. A portion of the gaseous phase is continuously passed through a high surface area sodium scrubber and the resulting water-free hydrogen stream recycled to the reactor in order to supply hydrogen thereto, and the excess hydrogen over that needed for plant pressure is recovered as excess separator gas. The liquid hydrocarbon phase from the hydrogen separating zone is withdrawn therefrom and passed to a debutanizer column of conventional design wherein light ends are taken overhead as debutanizer gas and a C.sub.5 + reformate stream recovered as bottoms.

The test run is continued for a catalyst life of about 20 barrels of charge per pound of catalyst utilized, and it is determined that the activity, selectivity, and stability of the present multimetallic catalyst are vastly superior to those observed in a similar type test with a conventional commercial reforming catalyst. More specifically, the results obtained from the subject catalyst are superior to the platinum metal-containing catalyst of the prior art in the areas of hydrogen production, C.sub.5 + yield at octane, average rate of temperature increase necessary to maintain octane and C.sub.5 + yield decline rate.

It is intended to cover by the following claims, all changes and modifications of the above disclosure of the present invention which would be self-evident to a man of ordinary skill in the catalyst formulation art or the hydrocarbon conversion art.