Mass transport and a complex reaction in porous catalyst pellets: Thiophene hydrodesulphurization

• Published in: Chemical engineering science 1984, Vol.39 (4), p.643-650
• Main Authors: Fott, Pavel, Schneider, Petr
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical engineering; Exact sciences and technology; Reactors
• ISSN: 0009-2509; 1873-4405
• DOI: 10.1016/0009-2509(84)80171-2

Using hydrodesulphurization (HDS) of thiophene, an isothermal model of a porous catalyst with a complex reaction and multicomponent diffusion in transition region has been tested experimentally. Transport properties of the catalyst for modelling reaction rate and selectivity have been characterized by transport parameters determined from diffusion and permeation experiments. Kinetic parameters have been obtained from experiments in the kinetic region. Computed reaction rates and selectivities have been compared with experimental values for a catalyst pellet of industrial size. In view of the considerable differences in kinetic behaviour of the powdered and pelleted catalyst the found agreement of the model prediction with the experiment (15-20%) has been regarded as acceptable. The accuracy of macrokinetic description can be further improved by a simple correction of the reaction rate constant. The results have shown the adequacy of transport parameters, determined from diffusion and permeation experiments, for the assessment of transport properties of porous catalysts and their suitability for quantitative prediction of behaviour under reaction conditions.