| abstract |
A liquid phase oxidation reactor comprises a sealable reaction vessel (11), stirring blades (17,18) disposed within the reaction vessel (11), a liquid phase supply line (19) for supplying a liquid phase reactant to the reaction vessel (11), a liquid phase discharge line (21) for draining a product obtained through a chemical reaction out of the reaction vessel (11), and a gas feed nozzle (25) for supplying an oxygen-containing gas to the reaction vessel (11). The outlet of the gas feed nozzle (25) has at least a first orientation at an angle to a radius of the reaction vessel (11) such that gas from the nozzle (25) is directed towards an interior sidewall of the reaction vessel (11). Preferably, the nozzle (25) has a bent configuration at the end of a pipe which may be rotated about its axis to rotate the nozzle (25) between its first orientation and a second orientation in which gas from the nozzle (25) is directed towards the stirring blades (17,18), in dependence upon the load in the reaction vessel (11). |