Mass transfer studies in the hydrogenation of methyl oleate over a Ni/SiO2catalyst in the liquid phase

A detailed mass transfer analysis was developed both theoretically and expe rimentally for the heterogeneously catalyzed hydrogenation of methyl oleate using a Ni/silica catalyst in a slurry reactor. The results indicate that, at the conditions studied, working with stirring rate between 1400 and 200 0 rpm, catalyst particle size below 50 mum, and catalyst weight below 1.11 g assured the kinetic regime for the reaction.