Abstract: A process for producing a silver-based epoxidation catalyst, comprising i) impregnating a particulate porous refractory support with a first aqueous silver impregnation solution comprising silver ions and an aminic complexing agent selected from amines, alkanolamines and amino acids; ii) converting at least part of the silver ions impregnated on the refractory support to metallic silver by heating while directing a stream of a first gas over the impregnated refractory support to obtain an intermediate catalyst, wherein the first gas comprises at least 5 vol.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a shaped catalyst body for preparing ethylene oxide, which comprises at least silver, cesium and rhenium applied to an alumina support, wherein the alumina support comprises Si, Ca, and Mg in a defined amount. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to a process for preparing the catalyst according to the present invention and process for preparing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene by means of oxygen in the presence of a shaped catalyst body according to the present invention.

Abstract: A process for producing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene, comprising: directing a feed comprising gaseous ethylene and gaseous oxygen through a packing of individual shaped catalyst bodies, under conditions conducive to obtain a reaction mixture containing at least 2.7 vol.-% of ethylene oxide, wherein each shaped catalyst body comprises silver deposited on a refractory support and is characterized by a content of at least 20 wt.-% of silver, relative to the total weight of the shaped catalyst body; a BET surface area in the range of 1.6 to 3.0 m2/g; a first face side surface, a second face side surface and a circumferential surface with a plurality of passageways extending from the first face side surface to the second face side surface; and a uniform multilobed cross-section; and a longest direct diffusion pathway d, with 2d being in the range of 0.7 to 2.

Abstract: A shaped catalyst body for producing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene, comprising silver deposited on a porous refractory support, the shaped catalyst body having a first face side surface, a second face side surface and a circumferential surface, characterized by a content of at least 20 wt.-% of silver, relative to the total weight of the shaped catalyst body; a multilobe structure; a plurality of passageways extending from the first face side surface to the second face side surface, outer passageways being arranged around a central passageway with one outer passageway being assigned to each lobe, wherein neighboring outer passageways are arranged essentially equidistantly to each other and the outer passageways are arranged essentially equidistantly to the central passageway; a minimum wall thickness A between two neighboring passageways in the range of 0.6 to 1.3 mm; a minimum wall thickness B between each outer passageway and the circumferential surface in the range of 1.1 to 1.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a shaped catalyst body for preparing ethylene oxide, which comprises at least silver, cesium and rhenium applied to an alumina support, wherein the alumina support comprises Si, Ca, and Mg in a defined amount. Furthermore, the present invention is directed to a process for preparing the catalyst according to the present invention and process for preparing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene by means of oxygen in the presence of a shaped catalyst body according to the present invention.

Abstract: The present invention provides a catalyst effective in the oxidative conversion of ethylene to ethylene oxide, comprising an alumina support and 20 to 45%by weight of the catalyst, of silver applied to the support, the catalyst meeting the following limitations (i) to (v): (i) an amount of cesium c(Cs) in mmol per Kg of catalyst of at least 2; (ii) an amount of rhenium c(Re) in mmol per Kg of catalyst of at least 3.0; (iii) an amount of tungsten c(W) in mmol per Kg of catalyst of at least 1.6; (iv) a silicon to alkaline earth metal molar ratio x of not higher than 1.80; (v) c(Cs)?c(Re)?c(W)?4·x?0.5.

Abstract: A method for preparing a silver impregnation solution comprises (a) charging a neutralization reactor R1 with an aqueous organic amine; (b) adding oxalic acid powder through a first feeding conduit to the neutralization reactor R1 to obtain an aqueous oxalic acid-organic amine solution; (c) directing the aqueous oxalic acid-organic amine solution from the neutralization reactor to a complexation reactor R2; (d) adding particulate silver oxide through a second feeding conduit to the complexation reactor R2 to obtain a silver impregnation solution; and, optionally, (e) subjecting the silver impregnation solution to filtration. The silver impregnation solution is used for producing a catalyst effective in the oxidative conversion of ethylene to ethylene oxide. The method allows for the preparation of a silver impregnation solution in an efficient and occupationally and environmentally safe way.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the regeneration of a catalyst comprising a titanium-containing zeolite, said catalyst having been used in a process for the preparation of an olefin oxide and having phosphate deposited thereon, said process for the regeneration comprising the steps: (a) separating the reaction mixture from the catalyst, (b) washing the catalyst obtained from (a) with liquid aqueous system; (c) optionally drying the catalyst obtained from (b) in a gas stream comprising an inert gas at a temperature of less than 300° C.; (d) calcining the catalyst obtained from (c) in a gas stream comprising oxygen at a temperature of at least 300° C.

Abstract: A continuous process for the preparation of propylene oxide, comprising (i) providing a liquid feed stream comprising propene, hydrogen peroxide, acetonitrile, water, optionally propane, and at least one dissolved potassium salt of a phosphorus oxyacid wherein the molar ratio of potassium relative to phosphorus in the at least one potassium salt of a phosphorus oxyacid is in the range of from 0.6 to 1.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalyst for the epoxidation of alkenes, comprising silver, rhenium, cesium, lithium, tungsten and sulfur on a support. The present invention further relates to a process for producing the catalyst and the use of the catalyst for the oxidation of alkylenes to alkylene oxides. In addition, the present invention relates to a process for preparing ethylene oxide from ethylene, which comprises the oxidation of ethylene with oxygen in the presence of said catalyst.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the regeneration of a catalyst comprising a titanium-containing zeolite, said catalyst having been used in a process for the preparation of an olefin oxide and having phosphate deposited thereon, said process for the regeneration comprising the steps: (a) separating the reaction mixture from the catalyst, (b) washing the catalyst obtained from (a) with liquid aqueous system; (c) optionally drying the catalyst obtained from (b) in a gas stream comprising an inert gas at a temperature of less than 300° C.; (d) calcining the catalyst obtained from (c) in a gas stream comprising oxygen at a temperature of at least 300° C.

Abstract: A continuous process for the preparation of propylene oxide, comprising (i) providing a liquid feed stream comprising propene, hydrogen peroxide, acetonitrile, water, optionally propane, and at least one dissolved potassium salt of a phosphorus oxyacid wherein the molar ratio of potassium relative to phosphorus in the at least one potassium salt of a phosphorus oxyacid is in the range of from 0.6 to 1.

Abstract: A process for producing propylene oxide comprising reacting propene with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst to give a mixture (G1) comprising propylene oxide, unreacted propene, and oxygen; separating propylene oxide from mixture (G1) to give a mixture (GII) comprising propene and oxygen; and adding hydrogen to mixture (GII) and reducing the oxygen comprised in mixture (GII) at least partially by reaction with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising copper in elemental and/or oxidic form on a support, wherein copper is present on the support in an amount of 30 to 80 wt.-% based on the whole catalyst and calculated as CuO.

Abstract: A continuous process for the production of propylene oxide comprising reacting propene with hydrogen peroxide in methanolic solution in the presence of a titanium silicalite-1 catalyst to obtain propylene oxide, wherein a reaction feed comprising propene, methanol and hydrogen peroxide is introduced into a reactor, said reaction feed containing potassium cations and phosphorus in the form of anions of at least one phosphorus oxyacid.

Abstract: A method for separating acetonitrile from water, comprising (i) providing a stream S1 containing at least 95 wt.-%, based on the total weight of S1, acetonitrile and water, wherein the weight ratio of acetonitrile: water is greater than 1; (ii) adding a stream P, comprising at least 95 wt.-% C3, based on the total weight of stream P, to S1 to obtain a mixed stream S2, C3 being propene optionally admixed with propane with a minimum weight ratio of propene: propane of 7:3; (iii) subjecting S2 to a temperature of 92° C. at most and a pressure of at least 10 bar, obtaining a first liquid phase L1 essentially consisting of C3, acetonitrile, and water, and a second liquid phase L2 essentially consisting of water and acetonitrile wherein the weight ratio of acetonitrile: water in L2 is less than 1; (iv) separating L1 from L2.

Abstract: A continuous process for the production of propylene oxide comprising reacting propene with hydrogen peroxide in methanolic solution in the presence of a titanium silicalite-1 catalyst to obtain propylene oxide, wherein a reaction feed comprising propene, methanol and hydrogen peroxide is introduced into a reactor, said reaction feed containing potassium cations and phosphorus in the form of anions of at least one phosphorus oxyacid.

Abstract: A process for producing propylene oxide comprising reacting propene with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a catalyst to give a mixture (G1) comprising propylene oxide, unreacted propene, and oxygen; separating propylene oxide from mixture (G1) to give a mixture (GII) comprising propene and oxygen; and adding hydrogen to mixture (GII) and reducing the oxygen comprised in mixture (GII) at least partially by reaction with hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst comprising copper in elemental and/or oxidic form on a support, wherein copper is present on the support in an amount of 30 to 80 wt.-% based on the whole catalyst and calculated as CuO.

Abstract: A method for separating acetonitrile from water, comprising (i) providing a stream S1 containing at least 95 wt.-%, based on the total weight of S1, acetonitrile and water, wherein the weight ratio of acetonitrile:water is greater than 1; (ii) adding a stream P, comprising at least 95 wt.-% C3, based on the total weight of stream P, to S1 to obtain a mixed stream S2, C3 being propene optionally admixed with propane with a minimum weight ratio of propene:propane of 7:3; (iii) subjecting S2 to a temperature of 92° C. at most and a pressure of at least 10 bar, obtaining a first liquid phase L1 essentially consisting of C3, acetonitrile, and water, and a second liquid phase L2 essentially consisting of water and acetonitrile wherein the weight ratio of acetonitrile:water in L2 is less than 1; (iv) separating L1 from L2.