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

The catalytic hydrogenation of alpha‐methylstyrene to cumene is studied in a laboratory 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 catalysi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:AIChE journal 1997-07, Vol.43 (7), p.1813-1818
Main Authors: Castellari, A. T., Cechini, J. O., Gabarain, L. J., Haure, P. M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Chemical engineering
Exact sciences and technology
Reactors
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The catalytic hydrogenation of alpha‐methylstyrene to cumene is studied in a laboratory 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 significantly. To determine and quantify the effect 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 from liquid cumene concentrations varied with the post‐packing length. A simple one‐dimensional model developed shows that theoretical and experimental results agree well.
ISSN:0001-1541
1547-5905
DOI:10.1002/aic.690430716