Hydrogenation

Requirements:
 
The reaction of pure gases requires:

• Complete gas consumption
• High productivity
• Uniform suspension of the catalyst
• Safety control of the gases and reaction products
• Recirculation of the reaction gases (picture right)

Typical applications:

• Hardening of technical fats
• Production of Sorbitol
• Saturation of fatty acids
• Production of pharmaceutical substances
• Reduction of aromatic nitro products into amines

Reactors for gas-liquid reactions are commonly built in the form of pressure vessels set up with their peripherals in monitored rooms. As a result, they constitute a substantial operating cost item for the user. To keep production costs down, the reactor systems have to be designed for maximum yield in terms of both space and time.

To make things even more demanding, the gaseous reactant has to be completely consumed, because – unlike the fermentation air in bioreactors – excess gas cannot simply be released to the atmosphere (for safety, ecological, and cost reasons).

External Gas Loop
 
Separation of non-desirable reaction products without additional compressor.