Effect of catalyst wettability on ON-OFF liquid flow modulation of a Trickle Bed Reactor

MARÍA AYUDE; PAOLA MASSA; FRANK STÜBER; ROSA FENOGLIO; PATRICIA HAURE

Braga

Congreso; Gas-Liquid and Gas-Liquid-Solid Reactor Engineering Congress GLS10; 2011

Universidade do Minho

The impact of liquid flow modulation in the Catalytic Wet Air Oxidation of phenol aqueous solutions was studied at 413 K and 7 atm oxygen pressure. Hydrophilic and wet-proofed CuO/γ-Al2O3 catalysts were used in a TBR operated at steady state and with slow ON-OFF cycling (periods 3 ? 10 min, splits 1/2, 1/3 y 1/6.). Steady state results obtained with both catalysts are similar; but, under the conditions investigated, LFM does not improve reactor performance. Experimental trends are explained through a model aimed at the particle scale that accounts for the mass transport-reaction steps involved for the case of completely hydrophobic, hydrophobized and hydrophilic particles.