For which type of application is a batch reactor especially suitable from an operations and control perspective?

Introduction / Context:
Reactor selection depends on reaction phase, scale, heat effects, and product slate. Batch reactors are widely used in fine chemicals, pharma, and specialty applications.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We compare batch with continuous systems.
• Focus on practicality: flexibility, control, and typical phases.

Concept / Approach:
Batch reactors provide flexibility, tight recipe control, and high-quality assurance, particularly for liquid-phase reactions and multiproduct campaigns. Large-scale gas-phase commodity production typically favors continuous plug-flow or CSTR systems.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1) Assess phase: many liquid-phase syntheses in pharma/fine chemicals are batch.2) Consider control needs: batch offers staged additions, temperature profiling, and sampling.3) Throughput: gas-phase large volume is usually continuous for efficiency.4) Highly exothermic polymerisations often require specialized reactor and control strategies; blanketly stating batch ensures “uniform products” is unsafe.

Verification / Alternative check:
Industry practice aligns: batch dominates for liquid-phase specialty products, where flexibility and traceability are critical.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a: 100% conversion is kinetic/thermodynamic, not guaranteed by batch mode.
Option b: Large gas-phase production is rarely batch.
Option d: Exothermic polymerisations demand careful heat removal; mode alone doesn’t ensure uniformity.
Option e: High-throughput cracking is continuous.

Common Pitfalls:
Equating reactor mode with guaranteed conversion or product uniformity; ignoring scale and heat transfer limits.

Final Answer:
Liquid-phase reactions, including specialty and multiproduct operations.