A major processing unit in an oil refinery that uses heat, pressure, and a platinum catalyst to restructure hydrocarbon molecules. It converts straight-chain alkanes in heavy naphtha into highly branched alkanes and aromatics. The process yields high-octane reformate for gasoline blending and produces significant amounts of hydrogen gas as a byproduct.
Heard on the job
We're taking the number two reformer offline for a catalyst regeneration cycle next week.
Also heard as
- catalytic reformer
- cat reformer