Abstract: A process for the production of an olefin oxide, which process comprises reacting a feed comprising an olefin and oxygen in the presence of a silver-containing catalyst, wherein before the catalyst has reached an advanced stage of ageing the reaction temperature is above 255° C. and the olefin content of the feed is above 25 mole-%, relative to the total feed.

Abstract: A method for the start-up of a process for the epoxidation of an olefin, which method comprises contacting a catalyst bed comprising a silver-based highly selective epoxidation catalyst, or a precursor of the catalyst comprising the silver in cationic form, with a feed comprising oxygen at a temperature of the catalyst bed above 260° C. for a period of at most 150 hours, and subsequently decreasing the temperature of the catalyst bed to a value of at most 260° C., and a process for the epoxidation of an olefin, which process, comprises contacting a catalyst bed comprising a silver-based highly selective epoxidation catalyst, or a precursor of the catalyst comprising the silver in cationic form, with a feed comprising oxygen at a temperature of the catalyst bed above 260° C. for a period of at most 150 hours, and subsequently decreasing the-temperature of the catalyst bed to a value of at most 260° C. and contacting the catalyst with the feed comprising the olefin and oxygen.

Abstract: A process for the production of an olefin oxide, which process comprises reacting a feed comprising an olefin and oxygen in the presence of a silver-containing catalyst, wherein before the catalyst has reached an advanced stage of ageing the reaction temperature is above 255° C. and the olefin content of the feed is above 25 mole-%, relative to the total feed.

Abstract: A method for the start-up of a process for the epoxidation of an olefin, which method comprises

Abstract: A process for the vapor phase oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide, which process involves reacting a reaction mixture having ethylene and oxygen in the presence of a supported highly selective silver-based catalyst by: operating at an initial operation phase wherein fresh catalyst is used, and operating at a further operation phase when a cumulative ethylene oxide production exceeds 0.01 kT ethylene oxide per m3 of catalyst, wherein in said further operation phase the concentration of ethylene in the reaction mixture is increased; and a method of using ethylene oxide into the 1.2-ethanediol or the 1,2-ethanediol ether wherein the ethylene oxide has been obtained by the process for the production of ethylene oxide.

Abstract: A process for the vapor phase oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide, which process comprises reacting a reaction mixture comprising ethylene and oxygen in the presence of a supported highly selective silver-based catalyst by: operating at an initial operation phase wherein fresh catalyst is used, and operating at a further operation phase when a cumulative ethylene oxide production exceeds 0.01 kT ethylene oxide per m3 of catalyst, wherein in said further operation phase the concentration of ethylene in the reaction mixture is increased; and a method of using ethylene oxide for making 1,2-ethanediol or a corresponding 1,2-ethanediol ether comprising converting the ethylene oxide into the 1,2-ethanediol or the 1,2-ethanediol ether wherein the ethylene oxide has been obtained by the process for the production of ethylene oxide.

Abstract: There is provided a process for the vapor phase oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide in the presence of a supported highly selective silver-based catalyst, the process comprising operating fresh catalyst for an initial operation phase, then operating at a further operation phase when the catalyst has reached an advanced aged defined by a cumulative ethylene oxide production exceeding 1.5 kT EO per m3 of catalyst. In the further operation phase the composition of the reaction mixture is changed to contain from 1.1 to 4 times the concentration of ethylene used in the initial operation phase and the corresponding optimised and safe concentration of oxygen.

Abstract: This invention relates to the novel recycle of a slipstream of product gas from the reactor outlet train, the slipstream having been cooled to a lower temperature, back into the outlet head. The recycled cooled gas immediately reduces the temperature of the product gas as the product gas exits the reactor tubes.