A catalytic distillation structure, comprising: a rigid framework having at least two grids (8A, 8B) spaced apart by at least one support rod extending from a first one of the at least two grids (8A, 8B) to a second one of the at least two grids (8A, 8B); a plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes mounted to the at least two grids (8A, 8B) to form a plurality of fluid pathways among the plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes, wherein each horizontal fluid permeable tube has a profile of a six-sided polygon, wherein the plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes are configured to guide a fluid flow to catalyst particles contained within the plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes; a plurality of vertical plates or wires connecting and vertically aligning tubes of the plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes, wherein each one of the plurality of vertical plates or wires connects from a corner of one vertically aligned tube to a corner of an adjacent vertically aligned tube; and a first series of vertically aligned tubes (A, C, E) and a second series of vertically aligned tubes (B, D), wherein the first series (A, C, E) comprises the plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes arrayed in a parallel, adjacent and vertically aligned columns within the first series (A, C, E), and the second series (B, D) comprises the plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes arrayed in a parallel, adjacent and vertically aligned columns within the second series (B, D), wherein the first series (A, C, E) of vertically aligned tubes are offset from the second series (B, D) of vertically aligned tubes, thereby the horizontal fluid permeable tubes of the first series (A, C, E) overlap the horizontal fluid permeable tubes of the second series (B, D) without contacting the horizontal fluid permeable tubes of the second series (B,D) to thereby form a tortuous fluid pathway, wherein a height of the plurality of vertical plates or wires evenly space apart the horizontal fluid permeable tubes in the first series (A,C, E) and the second series (B, D), wherein the first series (A, C, E) and the second series (B, D) are stacked side-by-side a distance apart, and wherein the six-sided polygon is a hexagon, and the plurality of vertical plates or wires connect the vertically aligned tubes from a top corner of the hexagon of one vertically aligned tube to a bottom corner of the hexagon of the adjacent vertically aligned tube. a rigid framework having at least two grids (8A, 8B) spaced apart by at least one support rod extending from a first one of the at least two grids (8A, 8B) to a second one of the at least two grids (8A, 8B); a plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes mounted to the at least two grids (8A, 8B) to form a plurality of fluid pathways among the plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes, wherein each horizontal fluid permeable tube has a profile of a six-sided polygon, wherein the plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes are configured to guide a fluid flow to catalyst particles contained within the plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes; a plurality of vertical plates or wires connecting and vertically aligning tubes of the plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes, wherein each one of the plurality of vertical plates or wires connects from a corner of one vertically aligned tube to a corner of an adjacent vertically aligned tube; and a first series of vertically aligned tubes (A, C, E) and a second series of vertically aligned tubes (B, D), wherein the first series (A, C, E) comprises the plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes arrayed in a parallel, adjacent and vertically aligned columns within the first series (A, C, E), and the second series (B, D) comprises the plurality of horizontal fluid permeable tubes arrayed in a parallel, adjacent and vertically aligned columns within the second series (B, D), wherein the first series (A, C, E) of vertically aligned tubes are offset from the second series (B, D) of vertically aligned tubes, thereby the horizontal fluid permeable tubes of the first series (A, C, E) overlap the horizontal fluid permeable tubes of the second series (B, D) without contacting the horizontal fluid permeable tubes of the second series (B,D) to thereby form a tortuous fluid pathway, wherein a height of the plurality of vertical plates or wires evenly space apart the horizontal fluid permeable tubes in the first series (A,C, E) and the second series (B, D), wherein the first series (A, C, E) and the second series (B, D) are stacked side-by-side a distance apart, and wherein the six-sided polygon is a hexagon, and the plurality of vertical plates or wires connect the vertically aligned tubes from a top corner of the hexagon of one vertically aligned tube to a bottom corner of the hexagon of the adjacent vertically aligned tube.