CFD and kinetic methods for mass transfer determination in a mesh microreactor

The global gas‐liquid‐solid volumetric mass‐transfer coefficient KLa of a catalytic multiphase microstructured film contactor, featuring 5 μm dimensions, a 155 μm liquid film thickness, and a 15 μm thin catalytic layer is determined, using the very fast hydrogenation of α‐methylstyrene with a Pd/γ‐alumina catalyst. The volumetric mass‐transfer coefficients measured experimentally fall in the range 0.8 – 1.6 s−1 above that predicted by the film model and those obtained from a CFD (3‐D model) simulation, and from an analytical solution.