Spouted bed reactors: Trends, gaps and possible pathways for scale-up

Since their invention in 1955, spouted bed reactors (SBRs) have become a versatile technology for diverse industrial uses. This study reviews current trends and technological gaps in SBR research, with emphasis on applications such as drying, coating, desulfurization, and thermochemical processes. Although laboratory-scale progress has been notable, large-scale adoption remains limited due to challenges in scalability and design. The work highlights priority research areas to overcome these barriers and focuses on two case studies—multi-unit square-based reactors and slot-rectangular geometries—as scalable strategies to address spouting challenges and to improve industrial implementation. • Assessment of the major trends and technological gaps in spouted bed research and development • Wide range of applications include drying, coating and thermo-chemical reactions • Spouted bed reactors show promising features for distributed applications • Industrial application still limited due to challenges in scalability • Advanced control and monitoring systems could play a pivotal role in their development