A Comparative Evaluation of Hydrogenation of 3-Butyn-2-ol over Pd/Al2O3 in an Oscillatory Baffled Reactor and a Commercial Parr Reactor

A multiphase catalytic hydrogenation of 3-butyn-2-ol over Pd/Al2O3 to produce 3-buten-2-ol was for the first time investigated in both an oscillatory baffled reactor (OBR) and a commercial stirred tank reactor (Parr). Catalytic control was first identified in the Parr by evaluating the effects of mixing, initial molar ratio of 3-butyn-2-ol/Pd, and temperature on reaction rate. These conditions were then used as the benchmark for a comparable evaluation of the OBR in terms of reactor efficiency (power consumption) and hydrogen utilization (H-2 efficiency). Our systematic investigations demonstrate that, due to the enhanced mass transfer in the OBR, it consumes 5 times less power to achieve the same reaction rate and delivers 2.3 times higher H-2 efficiency and 50% less reaction time in comparison to the Parr.