Catalyst system for distillation reactor

A process for concurrent catalytic reaction with distillation of fluid streams, comprising a liquid stream and a vapor stream, within a column reactor having a catalyst therein, said process comprising the steps of:

• providing a column having a plurality of horizontally extending vertically spaced apart distillation devices with a plurality of distillation zones for accommodating vapor flow in a vertical direction and liquid flow across said devices;
• coupling said devices with a plurality of liquid permeable horizontally spaced vertically extending containers which extend between at least some of said vertically spaced distillation devices and are filled with catalyst to form a plurality of vertically extending catalyst to form a plurality of vertically extending catalytic reaction zones which are separate and distinct from said distillation zones;
• feeding the liquid stream to said reactor and directing same onto one of said distillation devices for flow across same and downward passage under the influence of gravity through said reaction zones wherein said reaction occurs;
• directing the vapor stream to said column for upward passage through said devices and mass transfer with said liquid stream flowing across said devices;
• controlling said reaction by regulating the flow of the liquid stream through a catalyst beds and to said distillation devices;
• and
• withdrawing the products of reaction and distillation from the reactor.