Horizontal rotating foam stirrer reactor: Mass transfer characteristics

Three-phase reactor designs based on rotating solid foams are developed for the application in the fine chemical industry. The foam structure is used as a catalyst support and stirrer. Advantages are the high porosity, the large geometrical surface area and the absence of a need for catalyst separation. The focus is on a horizontal rotating shaft. High productivity can be achieved for a solid catalyzed gas-liquid reaction that is mass transfer limited in the gas phase reactant. High selectivity can be achieved as a result of a narrower residence-time distribution