Selective hydrogenation and mass transfer in a fixed‐bed catalytic reactor with gas‐liquid concurrent upflow

Reaction rates of selective hydrogenation of phenylacetylene (PA) and styrene were studied in a packed‐bed reactor with concurrent gas and liquid upflow. The surface reaction rates were expressed by the reaction between adsorbed PA or styrene and dissociated hydrogen atoms competing for the same active sites. The contributions of mass transfer rate were determined, and better selectivity conditions were discussed.