Abstract:
A carrier for an ethylene epoxidation catalyst is provided that includes an alumina first component and a mixed metal oxide of alumina second component. The mixed metal oxide of alumina second component comprises a corundum lattice structure having a plurality of O—Al—O bonds, wherein an Al atom of at least one O—Al—O bond of the plurality of O—Al—O bonds, but not all of the plurality of O—Al—O bonds, is replaced with a divalent or trivalent transition metal selected from the group consisting of scandium (Sc), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), cobalt (Co), nickel (Ni) copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn). A catalyst containing the carrier, as well as a process for the epoxidation of ethylene using the catalyst are also disclosed.
Abstract:
A silver-based ethylene oxide catalyst is provided that has enhanced stability. The enhanced stability is obtained in the present invention by providing a silver-based ethylene oxide catalyst that includes from 100 ppm to 1000 ppm of zinc, and from greater than 450 ppm to less than 800 ppm of cesium. Zinc and cesium are promoters that are introduced to a finished carrier either prior to, coincidentally with, or subsequent to the deposition of the silver. The silver-based ethylene oxide catalyst can be used in the epoxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide.
Abstract:
A process for the preparation of a catalyst useful for the vapor phase production of ethylene oxide from ethylene and oxygen comprising providing a catalyst precursor comprising an inert support having a catalytically effective amount of a silver containing compound, a promoting amount of an alkali metal containing compound, and a promoting amount of a transition metal containing compound disposed thereon; calcining the catalyst precursor to convert the silver in the silver containing compound to metallic silver by heating the catalyst precursor to form a catalyst; and curing the catalyst in an inert gas atmosphere at temperatures of about 250° C. to about 600° C. for a period of about 1 hour to 200 hours.
Abstract:
A silver-based ethylene oxide catalyst that can be used in the vapor phase conversion of ethylene to ethylene oxide in the presence of oxygen is provided that includes a carrier; a catalytic effective amount of silver; and a promoting amount of at least one promoter, wherein the catalyst has a surface sodium content of 100 ppm or less.
Abstract:
A method for producing ethylene oxide comprising: providing one or more feed components, wherein the one or more feed components contains at least ethylene obtained by dehydrating ethanol; contacting the one or more feed components with a desulfurization catalyst comprising a high surface area support and an amount of silver, wherein at least 20% of the silver is present as oxidized silver; and contacting the one or more feed components with a silver-containing epoxidation catalyst disposed inside an ethylene oxide reactor to form a reaction gas comprising ethylene oxide.
Abstract:
A silver-based ethylene oxide catalyst that can be used in the vapor phase conversion of ethylene to ethylene oxide in the presence of oxygen is provided that includes a carrier; a catalytic effective amount of silver; and a promoting amount of at least one promoter, wherein the catalyst has a surface sodium content of 100 ppm or less.
Abstract:
A method for lowering the sodium content of different carriers which may have different physical properties as well as varying degrees of sodium is provided. The method, which lowers the sodium content from the surface, subsurface as well as the binding layer of the carrier, includes contacting a carrier with water. A rinse solution is recovered from the contacting. The rinse solution includes leached sodium from the carrier. The sodium content in the rinse solution is then determined. The contacting, recovering and determining are repeated until a steady state in the sodium content is achieved.
Abstract:
A silver impregnation solution comprising: (i) silver ions, (ii) a silver concentration enhancer selected from at least one ammonium salt having an anionic component that is thermally decomposable; or at least one amino acid, or a combination thereof, (iii) at least one organic amine; and (iv) water; wherein said components (i)-(iii) are dissolved in said impregnation solution, and oxalic acid may or may not be included. The silver impregnation solution can achieve significantly higher silver concentrations, including at least or above 33, 34, or 35 wt %. Methods for producing a silver catalyst by silver impregnation of a refractory support followed by calcination are also described. The resulting silver catalysts possess high silver loadings of typically at least 17, 18, or 19 wt %.
Abstract:
A method for lowering the sodium content of different carriers which may have different physical properties as well as varying degrees of sodium is provided. The method, which lowers the sodium content from the surface, subsurface as well as the binding layer of the carrier, includes contacting a carrier with water. A rinse solution is recovered from the contacting. The rinse solution includes leached sodium from the carrier. The sodium content in the rinse solution is then determined. The contacting, recovering and determining are repeated until a steady state in the sodium content is achieved.
Abstract:
Silver based ethylene oxide catalysts having enhanced stability are disclosed. The enhanced stability silver based ethylene oxide catalysts include an alumina carrier which has been modified to include cavities on the surface of the carrier. The presence of the cavities on the surface of the modified carrier stops or at least impedes the motion of silver particles on the surface of the carrier during an epoxidation process. In particular, the cavities on the surface of the alumina carrier effectively trap and/or anchor silver particles and prevent them from further motion.