This review-perspective paper describes the current state-of-the-art in the field of rotating reactors. The paper has a focus on rotating reactor technology with applications at lab scale, pilot scale and industrial scale. Rotating reactors are classified and discussed according to their geometry: stirred tanks, tubes, discs and miscellaneous reactors. Their operating characteristics, industrial applications, and their main advantages and disadvantages are discussed including power requirements, residence time distribution, reactor volume, gas-liquid mass transfer rate, and the micromixing time. Finally, the barriers for further industrial implementations are discussed. (C) 2013 The Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.