Abstract: In the recovery of ethylene oxide from the gas resulting from catalytic gas-phase oxidation of ethylene with a molecular oxygen-containing gas and consequently containing ethylene oxide, a method which comprises subjecting the bottom liquid of an ethylene oxide stripper to a flashing treatment thereby separating the bottom liquid into a vapor-phase part and a liquid-phase part, introducing the vapor-phase part in a compressed state into the bottom of the ethylene oxide stripper, and circulating the liquid-phase part to the absorber. The liquid-phase part, after exchanging heat with the bottom of the ethylene oxide absorber, is caused by a heat pump to liberate thermal energy and generate steam. Further, the liquid-phase part can be used as a heat source for the ethylene oxide refiner and/or the light ends stripper. Moreover, the gas from the top of the ethylene oxide stripper can be used as a heat source for the ethylene oxide refiner.

Abstract: In the purification of ethylene oxide from an ethylene oxide-containing reaction formation gas produced by catalytic gas-phase oxidation of ethylene with a molecular oxygen containing gas, external thermal energy required for heating an ethylene oxide refiner is economized by a method which utilizes the diffusate obtained from the top of an ethylene oxide stripper as a heat source for the refiner. Further, the bottom liquid of the stripper can be used as a heat source for ethylene oxide refiner and/or a light ends stripper.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing a silver-supported catalyst for use in the production of ethylene oxide by catalytic vapor phase oxidation of ethylene with molecular oxygen, which comprises impregnating a porous inorganic carrier with a solution of a silver compound containing a reducing compound, subjecting the impregnated product to a reducing treatment at 50.degree. to 200.degree. C. to disperse and deposit metallic silver on the external surface of the carrier and the internal surfaces of its pores, washing the silver-supported carrier with water, a lower alcohol or both, drying the washed product at a temperature of 50.degree. to 150.degree. C., impregnating the dried product with a solution containing a promoter, and evaporating the liquid ingredients.

Abstract: A process for preparing ethylene oxide by the catalytic vapor phase oxidation of ethylene with molecular oxygen in the presence of a catalytic composition whose constituent metallic elements and atomic ratio are represented by the general formulaAg.sub.a Ba.sub.b X.sub.c Tl.sub.d K.sub.e Cs.sub.f O.sub.gwherein X represents at least one metallic element of the group consisting of tin and antimony, a, b, d, e, f and g are number of atoms of silver, barium, thallium, potassium, cesium and oxygen, respectively, and c is the sum of the number of atoms of at least one metallic element of the group consisting of tin and antimony; and when a is 100, b is a number from 0 to 100, c is a number from 0.001 to 0.15, d is a number from 0 to 0.1, e is a number from 0 to 0.1, f is a number from 0 to 0.1, with the proviso that the relationship 0<d + e + f.ltoreq.0.3 is satisfied, and g is a number determined by the valence requirements of the other elements present.