A catalytic reactor for industrial-scale hydrogenation processes is described. The catalytic reactor contains a catalytic fixed bed that comprises a support structure and a catalyst. During operation of the reaction in the catalytic reactor, the fixed bed is filled with reaction medium to at least 85% by volume. A very high contact area of the catalyst with the reaction medium is at the same time provided. The support structure is formed from material webs having a thickness of 5 to 25 μm, with a crosslinking density of at least 3 mm.sup.−3 present. The support structure consists of metals selected from elements of groups 8, 6 and 11 of the periodic table of the elements and mixtures thereof.

A device configured to be interposed between a lower layer and an upper layer of particles arranged inside a cylindrical shell, so as to limit or prevent the migration of particles between the layers.

A gas-solid contacting system (100) with structured packing (108) is disclosed. The structured packing (108) comprises a gas header (102) with an inlet to receive a gas. A plurality of vertically aligned tubes (104) is fluidically connected to the gas header (102), wherein each vertically aligned tube (104) comprises openings (180)to distribute the gas at different heights in a radial direction. A structured packing element (106) is arranged on each vertically aligned tube (104), wherein the structured packing element (106) comprises one or more plates attached to the vertically aligned tube (104) to create a convoluted 3-dimensional flow path for smooth flow and radial distribution of a solid particulate stream.

A support structure for a structured catalytic packing is disclosed. The support structure is in a fixed position relative to the reactor tube containing it. It supports catalyzed casings that are free to move relative to the support structure. The support structure and casings are inserted in the reactor tube such that the support structure is located proximate the longitudinal axis of the tube and the casings are located between the support structure and the reactor tube wall. The support structure comprises a central support tube or rod proximate to, and impervious or perforated discs perpendicular to, the longitudinal axis of the reactor tube, and may comprise spacers separating the discs.

The invention relates to a use of a fluorination gas, and the elemental fluorine (F.sub.2) is preferably present in a high concentration, for example, in a concentration of elemental fluorine (F.sub.2), especially of equal to much higher than 15% or even 20% by volume, and to a process for the manufacture of a fluorinated benzene derivative starting from benzoic acid derivative by direct fluorination employing a fluorination gas, wherein the elemental fluorine (F.sub.2) is preferably present in a high concentration, and subsequent decarboxylation of the benzoic acid hypofluorite derivative obtained by direct fluorination. The process of the invention is also directed to the manufacture of a benzoic acid hypofluorite derivative by direct fluorination of benzoic acid derivative. Especially the invention is of interest in the preparation of fluorinated benzene derivative, final products and as well intermediates, for usage in agro-, pharma-, electronics-, catalyst, solvent and other functional chemical applications.

A device configured to be interposed between a lower layer and an upper layer of particles arranged inside a cylindrical shell, so as to limit or prevent the migration of particles between the layers.

A catalytic reactor for industrial-scale hydrogenation processes is described. The catalytic reactor contains a catalytic fixed bed that comprises a support structure and a catalyst. During operation of the reaction in the catalytic reactor, the fixed bed is filled with reaction medium to at least 85% by volume. A very high contact area of the catalyst with the reaction medium is at the same time provided. The support structure is formed from material webs having a thickness of 5 to 25 μm, with a crosslinking density of at least 3 mm.sup.−3 present. The support structure consists of metals selected from elements of groups 8, 6 and 11 of the periodic table of the elements and mixtures thereof.

In a process as disclosed according to the present invention, gases or gas mixtures used to form a reactant mixture in an at least temporarily ignitable composition are fed into a mixing chamber (11) through the passages (131) in a boundary wall (13) of the mixing chamber (11) and by means of one or more feed conduits (14) which have feed orifices (141) and extend into the mixing chamber (11), respectively. The present invention likewise provides a corresponding reactor (1).

A support structure for a structured catalytic packing is disclosed. The support structure is in a fixed position relative to the reactor tube containing it. It supports catalyzed casings that are free to move relative to the support structure. The support structure and casings are inserted in the reactor tube such that the support structure is located proximate the longitudinal axis of the tube and the casings are located between the support structure and the reactor tube wall. The support structure comprises a central support tube or rod proximate to, and impervious or perforated discs perpendicular to, the longitudinal axis of the reactor tube, and may comprise spacers separating the discs.

The invention relates to a fluid collection device (8), in particular a support collector unit, for collecting fluid flowing through a packing (4) of a material exchange column (1). The fluid collection device (8) includes a support ring (11), a plurality of support profiles (12-16) secured to the support ring (11) for supporting the at least one packing (4), and a plurality of collection channels (19-21) secured to the support ring (11) for collecting the fluid. The collection channels (19-21) are positioned in parallel to the support profiles (12-16) and the support profiles (12-16) are arranged in such a way that they are each arranged in a no-flow area (40, 41) of one of the collection channels (19-21).