Transient techniques are frequently used for catalytic gas-phase processes, but the application of transient techniques on catalytic three-phase systems is very scarce. Transient kinetic experiments provide valuable additional information about the behaviour of complex organic reaction systems, which was illustrated here with continuous enantioselective three-phase hydrogenation of ethyl benzoylformate over supported Pt catalyst particles in a fixed bed. The catalyst stability and the details of the adsorption-desorption behaviour of the reaction participants were revealed by transient experiments. Quantitative modelling of the data was based on kinetic experiments and characterisation of the reactor flow pattern by an inert tracer. Both liquid-phase species and adsorbed surface species were included in the modelling. The model predicted correctly the dynamic behaviour of the complex organic system under transient conditions. The approach is generally applicable to complex organic systems undergoing catalytic transformations. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.