Tracer density effect on the dynamic liquid hold-up in the packed distillation column

Tracer density effect on dynamic liquid hold-up in packed distillation column was investigated, with the view to explore the process hydrodynamics in design of reactive distillation in packed columns. An increased dynamic liquid hold-up with tracer density rise was more pronounced at the lower segment of the packed section, notably for low percentage of aqueous methanol mixtures, to about 55% increase for 0.1 mole fraction aqueous methanol mixture. The effect falls with increase in methanol concentration in the feed mixtures. The tracer concentration distribution across the packed section of the column supports backmixing of liquid phase in packed distillation operation, with dynamic liquid holdup concentrating at the lower part of the packed section. Low pressure drop, associated with packed column, would be advantageous to reactive distillation operation in the column, especially for systems with high specific reaction rates.