Higher pressure in the reforming reactor

ANS:D - none of these.

Higher pressure in a reforming reactor typically produces high octane number gasoline. Here’s why: In catalytic reforming, which is a process used to increase the octane number of naphtha, higher pressures generally favor the formation of desirable high-octane hydrocarbons such as aromatics and iso-paraffins. This occurs because higher pressure promotes the stability of the reactive intermediates and increases the extent of side reactions that lead to the formation of these compounds. Let's address each option:

• Increases coke formation: Higher pressure can indeed increase coke formation in certain hydrocarbon reforming processes, but in catalytic reforming, where the focus is on producing high-octane gasoline, the conditions are controlled to minimize coke formation.
• Increases the rate of reaction: Higher pressure can influence reaction rates, but this is not the primary outcome targeted in catalytic reforming, where the goal is to maximize the yield of high-octane components rather than the overall reaction rate.
• Produces high octane number gasoline: This is the primary objective of catalytic reforming under higher pressure conditions. The increased pressure helps in achieving the desired high-octane gasoline product by favoring the formation of aromatic and branched-chain hydrocarbons.