Monolithic Stirrer Reactor: Performance in the Partial Hydrogenation of Sunflower Oil

Abstract

In the present paper, the performance of monolithic catalysts obtained from a catalytic converter was analyzed in the partial hydrogenation of sunflower oil. The monoliths were reimpregnated with palladium and installed as a blade in a monolithic stirrer reactor. The use of this type of reactor was explored in the reaction at 373 K and 413 kPa, analyzing the effect variables such as stirrer speed, hydrogen supply, and stirrer design on the catalyst activity and selectivity to trans-isomers and saturated product. The volumetric gas–liquid and liquid–solid mass transfer coefficients were calculated, and the influence of the stirrer speed was examined. Estimations of the Carberry numbers and Weisz–Prater modulus were used for establishing the presence or absence of mass transfer resistances. The performance of the catalyst was studied in consecutive tests, and different procedures for catalyst regeneration were applied.