Multiphase porous flow reactors and methods of using same

A method for performing a gas-liquid phase reaction process, comprising:

• a. driving a continuous flow of liquid at least in part by gravity through a porous material for a desired time period by providing a first liquid at a first end of the porous material and removing the first liquid from a second end of the porous material, wherein the porous material includes a reaction facilitator coated on at least a portion of the porous material and the porous material is at least partially enclosed in a housing of a porous flow reactor, the housing including a chamber defining a first gas-contacting region through which the porous material extends, a chamber defining a liquid-contacting region above the first gas-contacting region and a chamber defining a liquid-collection region below the first gas-contacting region, and wherein the chambers defining the first gas-contacting region, the liquid-contacting region and the liquid-collection region are vertically-aligned and the chamber defining the first gas-contacting region is sandwiched between the chamber defining the liquid-contacting region and the chamber defining the liquid-collection region and the porous material provides fluid communication at least between the liquid contacting-region and the first gas-contacting region;
• and,
• b. circulating a first gas containing a first reactant into the first gas-contacting region of the porous flow reactor via a pair of ports in the housing;
• c. contacting the first gas with the porous material;
• and
• d. reacting the first reactant and the reaction facilitator in the first gas contacting region to produce a product.