Abstract: Control of the temperature profile across a reactor which contains a plurality of catalyst beds is accomplished by splitting the feed to the reactor in such a manner that a portion of the feed is introduced into the first catalyst bed in the reactor and the remainder of the feed is introduced into the second catalyst bed of the reactor. The temperature of the feed stream introduced into the first catalyst bed in the reactor is manipulated so as to maintain a desired temperature in the first catalyst bed. The feed stream introduced into the second catalyst bed of the reactor is utilized to cool the effluent flowing from the first catalyst bed to maintain a desired temperature in the second catalyst bed. A recycle stream is introduced into the remaining catalyst beds with the flow rate of the recycle stream being manipulated so as to maintain desired temperatures in the remaining catalyst beds.