CATALYTIC CONVERTER ARRANGEMENT WITH OPTIMIZED SURFACE FOR PRODUCING PHTHALIC ANHYDRIDE

A catalytic converter arrangement for producing phthalic anhydride by means of a gas phase oxidation of aromatic hydrocarbons, comprising a reactor with a gas inlet side for a reactant gas, a gas outlet side for a product gas, a first catalytic converter layer made of catalytic converter elements, and at least one second catalytic converter layer made of catalytic converter elements. The first catalytic converter layer is arranged on the gas inlet side, and the second catalytic converter layer is arranged downstream of the first catalytic converter layer in the gas flow direction. The catalytic converter elements have an outer layer of an active compound. The invention is characterized in that the active compound content in the first catalytic converter layer and/or in the second catalytic converter layer is below 7 wt. %, based on the total weight of the catalytic converter elements, and the ratio of the total surface of the active compound to the volume of the catalytic converter layer is preferably 10000 cm−1 to 20000 cm−1, in each catalytic converter layer.