Several structured packing elements for multiphase tubular fixed bed reactors are compared on catalyst hold-up, heat transfer performance and pressure drop.Structured packings with coated catalyst typically exhibit low pressure drop compared to the conventional randomly dumped packed bed, as well as excellent heat transfer characteristics, but also contain considerably less catalyst per reactor volume.A particle-packed structured alternative (packed cross flow structure) exploits the advantages of structured flow, while not sacrificing much in catalyst hold-up at moderate pressure drop losses.