ABSTRACT
Catalytic reactions can lake place in either the liciuid or vapor phase. Liquid phase reactions can be run in either a continuous manner or as a batch process while vapor phase reactions are run only in a continuous mode. In a batch reaction the catalyst, reactants, and other components of the reaction mixture are placed in an appropriate reaction vessel, the reaction is run and the products removed from the vessel and separated from the catalyst. Of all the reaction variables involved in a heterogeneously catalyzed reaction, the most important is the nature of the catalyst to be used. Generally, parameters such as the quantity of catalyst, the size of the catalyst particles, the temperature of the system, the concentration of the substrate(s), and, when gaseous reactants are used, the reaction pressure, are important variables in heterogeneously catalyzed reactions.
