foreign is a critical process in petroleum refining that converts low octane naphtha into high octane Reformation the process involves a series of complex reactions that break down larger hydrocarbon molecules and recombines them into smaller branched molecules that have a higher octane rating the first step in the reforming process begins with heavy naptha created by an earlier process we cover in another video about fractionating the heavy nap foot is heated to a specific temperature range and then passed over a catalyst bed typically platinum or a platinum rhenium combination the Catalyst promotes a series of reactions that break down the larger hydrocarbon molecules into smaller fragments which then recombine into branched and ring configurations this step is usually repeated several times due to its endothermic nature in order to convert as many long-chained molecules as possible into higher octane configurations the main reactions that occurred during reforming are dehydrogenation isomerization and cyclization dehydrogenation removes hydrogen atoms from the nap the molecules creating double bonds and increasing the number of aromatic and nephthenic Rings isomerization rearranges the carbon atoms within the molecule creating more branched less straight chain molecules cyclization forms Rings within the molecule further increasing its aromatic content the remaining hydrogen is then siphoned off for other uses resulting product called Reformation is divided or fractioned into light and heavy Reformation the light fraction will be combined with light naptha created in an earlier fractionating process not shown in this video and that resulting mixture will be catalytically isomerized the heavy fraction is passed through one more conversion Zone operated under conditions to break apart or crack C7 plus paraffins and isomerize C8 aromatics lastly the final product is cooled and condensed to be used as a high octane blend stock or to be sent for Recovery of individual components such as Benzene toluene and xylene the reformate may still contain some impurities so it may be subject to additional processes such as hydrocracking or distillation to further improve its properties and be blend stock ready every step of this highly complex process requires instrumentation from gas chromatograph analyzers that feed critical information to operators during each step to additional instruments that analyze final products and verify things such as Octane and vapor pressure ratings meet the required specifications with Roman spectroscopy much of the required instrumentation infrastructure can be replaced by a single analyzer with probe strategically positioned to monitor every step of this process measuring multiple properties such as octane butane Benzene RVP and others to learn more about opportunities for ramen within various Refinery processes or to further learn about the power of chemometric modeling please visit us at [Music] www.process Dash instruments Dash inc.com [Music]