Mass transfer and liquid-phase reactions in a segmented two-phase flow monolithic catalyst reactor

Abstract Hydrogenation of 2-ethyl-hexenal was performed in a monolithic catalyst. The gas-liquid flow through the monolith channels was a segmented two-phase flow providing a recirculation within the liquid plugs. The influence of mass trnasfer for two liquid-phase hydrogenation reactions has been studied in the monolithic catalyst reactor. The enhanced mass transfer between phases was due to very high interfacial surface area in combination with a short diffusion length.