Heterogeneous catalytic processes continuous-flow reactor

Various experimental methods to evaluate the kinetics of flow processes existed even in the last centuty. They developed gradually with the expansion of the petrochemical industry. In the 1940s, conversion versus residence time measurement in tubular reactors was the basic tool for rate evaluations. In the 1950s, differential reactor experiments became popular. Only in the 1960s did the use of Continuous-flow Stirred Tank Reactors (CSTRs) start to spread for kinetic studies. A large variety of CSTRs was used to study heterogeneous (contact) catalytic reactions. These included spinning basket CSTRs as well as many kinds of fixed bed reactors with external or internal recycle pumps (Jankowski 1978, Berty 1984.)... 

The examples described in the previous paragraphs were all carried out as batch reactions. For practical applications in industry, however, the ideal process would involve a continuous-flow system in which the substrates are continuously fed into the reactor, where they react in the presence of the catalyst, and the products are collected at the other end. The catalyst remains in the reactor at all times. Such systems were previously exclusively applied for heterogeneous catalytic reactions. Nowadays, the use of SILP systems allows the desired homogeneous catalysts to be used in continuous flow. 

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