Gas-liquid-liquid reactions: Contacting mechanisms and effective process technologies

Abstract

Gas-liquid-liquid reactions play a significant role in the field of chemical process technology, however, in the last decade they have rarely been investigated by researchers. Some obstacles are faced for researching and developing gas-liquid-liquid (GLL) systems; one of them is the lack of available literature, which explains the contacting and mass transfer mechanisms between the gas and two liquid phases during the reaction. However, the details of the chemical mechanisms is the principal information needed to choose the appropriate reactor type and process. Knowledge of the chemical mechanisms is also useful for the prediction of the kinetics of GLL reactions. GLL reaction processes can only be improved with a good understanding of these mechanisms. For these reasons, this article aims at understanding analyzing the contacting and mass transfer mechanisms between the gas and liquid-liquid phases with respect to some applications of GLL reactions. It also aims at creating a framework to identify different scenarios that can be used to choose or implement a specific GLL contacting mechanism.