ABSTRACT
I. INTRODUCTION Although multiphase reactions are central to many industrial processes, they are not yet understood nearly as well as their single-phase counterparts. Studies of homogeneous single-phase reaction systems have provided a wealth of information for understanding how variables such as pressure, temperature, and composition affect rate constants, selectivity, reaction mechanism, and activation energy. Single-phase systems are also of significant practical importance; however, the use of multiphase systems is expected to become much more prevalent because of their potential for reducing the environmental impact of chemical manufacturing processes. The fundamental and applied knowledge for various gas-solid, liquid-solid, and gas-liquid twophase systems is substantial, but the design of reaction processes with multiple liquid phases remains problematic. Perhaps one reason that studies of liquid-liquid reaction systems are far less common is that it is often possible to use an organic solvent or solvent mixture to achieve single-phase conditions. From an environmental standpoint, this approach is often no longer acceptable.
