Trickle-bed reactors: Liquid diffusional effects in a gas-limited reaction

A model is developed for predicting the performance of a partially wetted trickle‐bed reactor for a gas‐limiting reaction of order less than or equal to one. The model indicates that under certain conditions the liquid reactant may affect the reaction rate due to its inability to rapidly diffuse to catalyst areas that are in direct contact with the gas. This model is the first to explain and predict on a rational basis the experimental results for the hydrogenation of diluted ć‐methylstyrene and aqueous maleic acid reported in the literature. A criterion that determines when liquid reactant effects can be expected is developed and reported.