Development and Characterization of a Differential Recycle Reactor for the Investigation of Heterogeneously Catalyzed Gas-Liquid Reactions

This work highlights the importance of kinetic data for chemical reaction scale-up and process optimization, focusing on heterogeneously catalyzed gas-liquid reactions in fixed-bed reactors where lab and production-scale conditions must align. A differential recycle reactor (DRR) operated in batch mode is introduced, featuring optimized geometry for comparable fluid dynamics, minimal maldistribution, and simple modeling of time-dependent concentration profiles. Demonstration via selective ring hydrogenation confirms the DRR's efficiency for rapid catalyst screening and comprehensive kinetic studies under varied process conditions.