Method for operating a distillation column reactor

A method for carrying out heterogeneous catalytic reactions comprising the steps of:

• a. supporting a solid particulate catalyst on trays in a distillation column reactor;
• b. feeding a stream containing at least one reactant to said distillation column reactor;
• c. concurrently in said distillation column reactor;
• (i) contacting said stream with said catalyst to react at least a portion of said reactant to form a reaction mixture containing reactant and products, and
• (ii) separating reactant from products by fractional distillation while maintaining a liquid level over said catalyst;
• d. replacing said solid particulate catalyst on any of said trays by:
• (i) withdrawing liquid from any of said trays through a conduit, said liquid containing solid particulate catalyst to a separator to separate the solid particulate catalyst from the liquid as by settling to define a clear liquid and recirculating the clear liquid to the tray until all of the solid particulate catalyst has been removed from the tray, and
• (ii) withdrawing clear liquid from any of the trays in which catalysts had been separated and slurrying replacement catalyst in said withdrawn clear liquid and recirculating the slurried catalyst and liquid to the tray until all the catalyst has been replaced on the tray.