Abstract: This invention is a process for the removal of acetaldehyde impurities from ethyl acetate formed by reacting acetic acid with ethylene over a catalyst by refining a crude mixture of ethyl acetate, diethyl ether, acetaldehye and water in a column (C) so as to remove (a) refined ethyl acetate as a base product to be further purified, and (b) light ends mixture comprising diethyl ether and acetaldehyde overhead to be fed to an aldehyde removal column; a purge comprising acetaldehyde is removed at or near the top of the aldehyde removal column. The process is a very important step in the commercial manufacture of ethyl acetate because the presence of acetaldehyde is detrimental to the esterification catalyst.

Abstract: A catalyst composition having high epoxidation activity and resistant to leaching of its metal comprises molybdenum, vanadium, tungsten and/or titanium complexed to an organic or inorganic support through the intermediacy of an imidazole ligand. The catalyst may be used in epoxidation of olefinic compounds.