GB702907A - Improvements in and relating to reaction vessels and their operation - Google Patents

Abstract

<PICT:0702907/III/1> A converter for gas or vapour phase reactions over a solid catalyst in the presence of a liquid which is to be kept substantially out of contact with the catalyst, is provided with one or more columns packed with an inert material which surround and/or are surrounded by the catalyst material and are separated from the catalyst by pervious septa. Liquid is introduced at the top of the column and gaseous or vaporous reactants are contacted with the liquid in the column and the adjacent catalyst, in cocurrent or countercurrent, the liquid loading being such that "break through" of the liquid to the catalyst does not occur. In Fig. 1, a column 8 of inert material such as silica chips, alumina pellets or mullite spheres, is surrounded by catalyst 6 such as tungstic oxide pellets. Liquid entering at 2 is distributed over the column and leaves at 2a; gas enters at 3, leaves at 4. The pervious septum 5 may be gauze of glass wool or metal, particularly stainless steel such as "Staybrite" (Registered Trade Mark) or copper, perforated metallic or non-metallic sheets, or the inert material 8 may be superficially sintered to render it suitably pervious. Two adjacent septa may be employed. The converter is suitable for the hydration of propylene to isopropanol or the hydrogenation of olefines such as liquid di-isobutene to isooctane. An example relates to hydrogenating isooctene which is fed to the upper surface of a column of silica chips in the centre of a reaction vessel, the column being surrounded by foraminate nickel/aluminium catalyst with an interposed copper gauze septum. Hydrogen is passed downwardly through the catalyst and the temperature is maintained at 30 DEG C. 40 per cent. of the isooctene is converted to isooctane. Specification 680,865 is referred to.