Abstract:
A carrier for an ethylene epoxidation catalyst, the carrier comprising a porous alumina body formed of sintered particles of alumina in a substantial absence of inorganic binder species other than alumina, wherein the substantial absence of inorganic binder species corresponds to an amount of less than 0.6 wt % inorganic binder species other than alumina and comprises at least a substantial absence of silicon-containing species.
Abstract:
A high selectivity catalyst start-up process is provided in which an excess level of chloride moderator (greater than 1 ppm) is present in the feed gas composition during each of the various stages of the start-up process. The excess level of chloride used in the start-up process maintains a low level of selectivity (less than 86%) during the entire start-up process. Despite the low selectivity values achieved during the start-up process of the present disclosure, high selectivity catalysts that are conditioned by such a start-up process exhibit improved catalyst performance during the normal operation of the catalyst.
Abstract:
A high selectivity catalyst start-up process is provided in which an excess level of chloride moderator (greater than 1 ppm) is present in the feed gas composition during each of the various stages of the start-up process. The excess level of chloride used in the start-up process maintains a low level of selectivity (less than 86%) during the entire start-up process. Despite the low selectivity values achieved during the start-up process of the present disclosure, high selectivity catalysts that are conditioned by such a start-up process exhibit improved catalyst performance during the normal operation of the catalyst.
Abstract:
A method for producing a catalyst effective in the oxidative conversion of ethylene to ethylene oxide, the method comprising subjecting a refractory carrier impregnated with a liquid silver-containing solution to a calcination process, wherein the calcination process comprises a solvent removal step in which the silver-impregnated carrier is heated to a base temperature (Tbase) of at least 80° C. and up to about 200° C. to produce a dry carrier impregnated with ionic silver, followed by a silver reduction step in which the dry carrier is gradually heated above the base temperature to a maximum temperature (Tmax) of at least 350° C. and up to about 500° C. and then gradually cooled to the base temperature, wherein the method is conducted such that (Tbase−Tmax)×HW is at least 2000 min.° C. wherein HW is a full width at half maximum of a temperature versus time curve delineated by the silver reduction step.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to an improved carrier for an ethylene epoxidation catalyst, the carrier comprising alumina in combination with a stability-enhancing amount of mullite. The invention is also directed to an improved catalyst containing the improved carrier, as well as an improved process for the epoxidation of ethylene using the catalyst of the invention.
Abstract:
A method for producing a catalyst effective in the oxidative conversion of ethylene to ethylene oxide, the method comprising subjecting a refractory carrier impregnated with a liquid silver-containing solution to a calcination process, wherein the calcination process comprises a solvent removal step in which the silver-impregnated carrier is heated to a base temperature (Tbase) of at least 80° C. and up to about 200° C. to produce a dry carrier impregnated with ionic silver, followed by a silver reduction step in which the dry carrier is gradually heated above the base temperature to a maximum temperature (Tmax) of at least 350° C. and up to about 500° C. and then gradually cooled to the base temperature, wherein the method is conducted such that (Tbase−Tmax)×HW is at least 2000 min.° C. wherein HW is a full width at half maximum of a temperature versus time curve delineated by the silver reduction step.
Abstract:
A method for producing a catalyst effective in the oxidative conversion of ethylene to ethylene oxide, the method comprising: (i) impregnating a porous refractory carrier with a sub-catalytic level of silver ion in a range of 0.1 wt % to 1 wt % of silver by weight of the carrier and silver, and at least partially reducing said silver ion to elemental silver to produce a low-silver catalyst precursor having isolated silver atoms or silver nanoparticles on surfaces of said refractory carrier; and (ii) further impregnating the low-silver catalyst precursor with a catalytic amount of silver ion of at least 10 wt % total amount of silver and at least one promoting species by weight of the carrier and silver, and subjecting the further impregnated carrier to an elevated temperature of at least 200° C. to completely reduce silver ion to elemental silver in the carrier. The low-silver catalyst precursor produced in step (i) is also described in detail. Methods for using the catalyst produced in step (ii) for the oxidative conversion of ethylene to ethylene oxide are also described.