A liquid-liquid plug flow continuous reactor for the investigation of catalytic reactions: The centrifugal partition chromatograph

A centrifugal partition chromatograph (CPC) is used as a liquid-liquid reactor for the catalytic reduction of benzaldehyde to benzylic alcohol. The catalyst is a water-soluble ruthenium complex with triphenylphosphinetrisulfonated, sodium salt (TPPTS) as a ligand. Kinetic study in a well-mixed batch reactor reveals that the reaction is of first order with respect to the substrate. Hydrodynamics and mass transfer in the CPC have been studied. Residence-time distribution analysis evidences the plug-flow pattern of the CPC. Comparison of the characteristic reaction time with the mass transfer time shows that the chemistry is the actual limiting process. Finally, catalytic tests in the CPC reactor confirm the kinetic data obtained in the batch reactor. The CPC is thus found to be a very effective continuous plug-flow liquid-liquid catalytic reactor. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.