A novel micro structured bubble column reactor (MSBC) is studied experimentally in this work. Microsffucturing is realized by using a wire mesh inserted in a pseudo-2D bubble column reactor. Different flow configurations of the wire mesh are evaluated by means of visual observation. Three different regimes with bubble cutting, bubble culling followed by re coalescence and gas pocket formation were observed for different wire meshes for superficial gas velocities ranging from 5 to 50 mm/s. An advanced digital image analysis technique (DIA) was used to determine the effect of wire mesh on the bubble size distribution, gas holdup and interfacial area Derailed experiments were performed for wire meshes with mesh openings of 3.3 mill, 3.7 mill and 5.6 mm for superficial gas velocities ranging from 5 to 30 minis. Bubble cutting is observed at 3.7 mm mesh opening for superficial gas velocities up to 15 minis. At higher superficial gas velocities, the bubble breaks up to very small bubbles and bypasses the wire mesh unaffected. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.