The influence of periodic operation of a laboratory-scale trickle-bed reactor (TBR) on a consecutive reaction, the hydrogenation of 2-ethylanthraquinones (EAQs) over Pd/Al2O3, was studied. The effects of operating parameters including cycle period, split, pressure, temperature, and time-average flow rate on the performance were experimentally examined in comparison with steady-state operation on time-average liquid flow rate basis. The results showed that both conversion and selectivity, i.e., the yield of intermediate EAHQs, can be improved when the cycle period is less than 150 s and that the effect of periodic operation on selectivity becomes imperceptible when conversion is greater than 65%.