Effect of catalyst loading on gasliquid mass transfer in a slurry reactor: A statistical experimental approach

A statistical experimental design was employed to study the effects of pressure, temperature, catalyst loading, and mixing speed on the solubilities (C*) and volumetric gas/liquid mass transfer coefficients (k_L^a) for H₂, N₂, CO, CH₄ and C₂H₄ in a liquid mixture of hexanes containing iron oxide catalyst in a 4-litre agitated autoclave. Statistical correlations for k_L^a values for the gases used were developed. Mixing speed and solid concentration showed the strongest effects on k_L^a. At low catalyst concentrations, a maximum in k_L^a was observed and at concentrations > 37 mass%, k_L^a decreased by more than one order of magnitude.