Abstract: Catalyst particles are contacted with a liquid and a gas in a vertically extending cylindrical vessel. The particles and liquid are placed in the vessel into which the gas and liquid are continuously fed from the bottom thereof so that an upwardly flowing mixture comprising the particles, liquid and gas is formed. The mixture is introduced into a gas separating zone disposed adjacent to an upper portion of the vessel to separate the mixture by gravity into a gas phase, a supernatant liquid phase and a phase rich in the catalyst particles. The gas and supernatant phases are continuously withdrawn from the separating zone while the catalyst particles-rich phase is continuously recycled to the bottom of the vessel by gravity.

Abstract: A process for the production of a carbonyl compound such as acetic acid by reacting a carbonylatable compound such as methanol with a carbon monoxide in the presence of a carbonylation catalyst containing a noble metal complex supported on a porous, cross-linked vinylpyridine resin at a temperature of 140-250.degree. C., a carbon monoxide partial pressure of 7-30 kg/cm.sup.2 and a hydrogen partial pressure of 0.1-5 kg/cm.sup.2 to obtain a liquid product containing the carbonyl compound and an unreacted CO-containing gas product. The water content and the carbonylation degree of the liquid product within the reactor are maintained at 0.5-10% by weight and 0.5-0.9, respectively, The carbonyl compound is separated from the liquid product in a flasher and/or a distillation tower formed of titanium or a titanium-palladium alloy. The liquid product is introduced into a pressure reducing valve and then mixed with the CO-containing gas product before being fed to the flasher and/or distillation tower.

Abstract: Catalyst particles are contacted with a liquid and a gas in a vertically extending cylindrical vessel. The particles and liquid are placed in the vessel into which the gas and liquid are continuously fed from the bottom thereof so that an upwardly flowing mixture comprising the particles, liquid and gas is formed. The mixture is introduced into a gas separating zone disposed adjacent to an upper portion of the vessel to separate the mixture by gravity into a gas phase, a supernatant liquid phase and a phase rich in the catalyst particles. The gas and supernatant phases are continuously withdrawn from the separating zone while the catalyst particles-rich phase is continuously recycled to the bottom of the vessel by gravity.