The goal of Catalytic reforming process is to convert heavy naphtha, which contains high levels of naphthenes, into a high-octane reformate. This reformate is very low in sulfur and is an important product for blending in gasoline. This process produces hydrogen that can be used for hydro treating and hydro cracking processes. This hydrogen is used to hydrotreat the naptha feedstock. This needs to be done to protect the platinum catalyst from poisoning by sulfur or nitrogen species. Even with the hydrogen usage catalysts are still deactivated by coke deposition. The commercial catalytic processes are identified based on the type of catalyst regeneration that is used. The first type of reforming process that was used commercially is called semi-regenerative. This process was first used in 1949. These reactors need to be shut down every 3 to 24 months because the catalysts need to be regenerated because the catalysts are deactivated by coke deposition. The second type of catalytic reforming process is called cyclic. It was first introduced in 1960 and involves a swing reactor. Three of the four are in operation at one time. They use the extra reactor when one is offline for catalyst regeneration. The third type of catalytic reforming process is called continuous. This type of process was introduced in 1971. The catalyst is removed and replaced without stopping the process. This allows the catalysts to maintain a high level of activity, although this process is very expensive. There are three types of processes within catalytic reforming are Alkylation, polymerization, and isomerization. Alkylation combines light iso-paraffins with olefins to produce very high molecular weight iso-paraffins to blend with gasoline. Polymerization combines propenes and butenes to also produce higher olefins with high octane numbers to blend with gasoline. Isomerization has been used since the need for lead free gasoline has been relevant. This process isomerizes n-butane to iso-butane. Then also uses alkylation to produce high octane gasoline stocks.