Apparatus and process for the continuous reaction of a liquid with a gas over a solid catalyst

A reactor, comprising:

• at least one first zone in which a catalyst is present as a fixed bed;
• and
• at least one second zone whose size corresponds to a reactor cross section and which is separated from said at least one first zone by a distributor plate provided with at least one hole and in which at least one liquid and at least one gaseous starting material enter said reactor;
• wherein said distributor plate is provided with at least one static mixer which is located in said at least one hole on at least one side of the distributor plate;
• said reactor being capable of accommodating a reaction in which at least three phases are present and at least one gaseous starting material and at least one liquid starting material are reacted in cocurrent over a fixed-bed catalyst to give one or more product(s);
• wherein a length-to-diameter ratio of the reactor is 2.6 or less.