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 (kLa) 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 kLa values for the gases used were developed. Mixing speed and solid concentration showed the strongest effects on kLa. At low catalyst concentrations, a maximum in kLa was observed and at concentrations > 37 mass%, kLa decreased by more than one order of magnitude.