1. Reduced Catalytic Efficiency: Areas with higher concentrations of catalyst may become oversaturated, while areas with lower concentrations may be underutilized. 2. Hot Spots: In exothermic reactions, uneven distribution can cause localized heating, leading to "hot spots" that could deactivate the catalyst or lead to unwanted side reactions. 3. Mass Transfer Limitations: Uneven distribution can create mass transfer barriers, reducing the overall rate of the catalytic process. 4. Product Inconsistency: Variability in the catalyst distribution can lead to inconsistent product quality.