Process

摘要

A process for carrying out a chemical reaction comprises supplying gaseous reactants to a first reaction zone 102 comprising a first catalyst of a first catalyst particle equivalent diameter; operating said first reaction zone such that when the reactants are contacted with the first catalyst a portion of the reactants are converted to the desired product; removing an intermediate stream 103 comprising the unreacted reactants and the desired product and passing the stream to a second reaction zone 104 comprising a tubular reactor said wherein said tubes comprise a plurality of catalyst carriers containing a catalyst having a second catalyst particle equivalent diameter which is smaller than the first catalyst particle equivalent diameter of the first catalyst; operating said second reaction zone such that when the unreacted reactants in the stream from the first reaction zone are contacted with the second catalyst, at least some of the unreacted reactants are converted to the desired product; and recovering a product stream 105. The apparatus for carrying out the process is also disclosed.