Gas-phase reaction in a trickle-bed reactor operated at low liquid flow rates

✍ Scribed by A. T. Castellari; J. O. Cechini; L. J. Gabarain; P. M. Haure

• Publisher: American Institute of Chemical Engineers
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 522 KB
• Volume: 43
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0001-1541
• DOI: 10.1002/aic.690430716

✦ Synopsis

The catalytic hydrogenation of alpha-methylstyrene to cumene is studied in a laboratoy trickle-bed reactor operated at low liquid flow rates. Under this condition, wetting is not complete, vaporization of the liquid phase may occur, and reaction could proceed via liquid-solid and gas-solid catalysis, which increase the hydrogenation rate sign$cantly. To determine and quantih the eflect of the gas-solid catalyzed reaction, we propose the use of post-packing sections of increasing lengths. The inert bed acts as an absorber of the gas-phase-produced cumene. The liquid and gas effluent were monitored. Experimental global rates determined fiom liquid cumene concentrations varied with the post-packing length. A simple one-dimensional model developed shows that theoretical and experimental results agree well.