Abstract: Ceramic articles such as catalyst carriers that include a continuous matrix and a dispersed phase distributed within the matrix as a plurality of discrete regions are disclosed. The matrix and discreet regions have different dye penetration test values. The disclosure also relates to methods of making and characterizing ceramic articles, and to catalyst bodies including the ceramic articles.

Abstract: A process for the epoxidation of ethylene comprising: contacting an inlet feed gas comprising ethylene, oxygen and one or more reaction modifiers consisting of organic chlorides with an epoxidation catalyst comprising a carrier, and having silver, a rhenium promoter, and one or more alkali metal promoters deposited thereon; wherein the inlet feed gas has an overall catalystchloriding effectiveness value (Cleff) represented by the formula (I): wherein [MC], [EC], [EDC], and [VC] are the concentrations in ppmv of methyl chloride (MC), ethylchloride (EC), ethylene dichloride (EDC), and vinylchloride (VC), respectively, and [CH4], [C2H6] and [C2H4] are the concentrations in mole percent of methane, ethane, and ethylene, respectively, in the inlet feedgas; wherein at a cumulative ethylene oxide production cumEO1 of at least 0.

Abstract: Ceramic articles such as catalyst carriers that include a continuous matrix and a dispersed phase distributed within the matrix as a plurality of discrete regions are disclosed. The matrix and discreet regions have different dye penetration test values. The disclosure also relates to methods of making and characterizing ceramic articles, and to catalyst bodies including the ceramic articles.

Abstract: Methods for conditioning an ethylene epoxidation catalyst are provided. The conditioning methods comprise contacting an ethylene epoxidation catalyst comprising a carrier, having silver and a rhenium promoter deposited thereon, with a conditioning feed gas comprising oxygen for a period of time of at least 2 hours at a temperature that is above 180° C. and at most 250° C., wherein the contacting of the ethylene epoxidation catalyst with the conditioning feed gas occurs in an epoxidation reactor and in the absence of ethylene. Associated methods for the epoxidation of ethylene are also provided.

Abstract: Ceramic articles such as catalyst carriers that include a continuous matrix and a dispersed phase distributed within the matrix as a plurality of discrete regions are disclosed. The matrix and discreet regions have different dye penetration test values. The disclosure also relates to methods of making and characterizing ceramic articles, and to catalyst bodies including the ceramic articles.

Abstract: Methods for conditioning an ethylene epoxidation catalyst are provided. The conditioning methods comprise contacting an ethylene epoxidation catalyst comprising a carrier, having silver and a rhenium promoter deposited thereon, with a conditioning feed gas comprising oxygen for a period of time of at least 2 hours at a temperature that is above 180° C. and at most 250° C., wherein the contacting of the ethylene epoxidation catalyst with the conditioning feed gas occurs in an epoxidation reactor and in the absence of ethylene. Associated methods for the epoxidation of ethylene are also provided.

Abstract: An ethylene epoxidation catalyst is disclosed that comprises a fluoride-mineralized carrier having silver and a rhenium promoter deposited thereon, wherein the fluoride-mineralized carrier has: a total fluorine (TF) content less than 5000 ppm as measured by XRF, a water extractable fluorine (WEF) content greater than 45 ppm as measured by microwave extraction and ion specific electrode, and wherein the ratio of TF:WEF is between 10 and 110. Associated methods of manufacturing such catalysts and epoxidation methods using such catalysts are similarly provided.

Abstract: A process for treating a carrier, or a precursor thereof, to at least partly remove impurities from the carrier, or the precursor thereof, comprising: contacting the carrier, or the precursor thereof, with a treatment solution comprising a salt in a concentration of at most 0.05 molar, wherein the salt comprises a cation and an anion, and wherein the cation is selected from ammonium, phosphonium, organic cations and combinations thereof, and wherein the anion is selected from organic anions, inorganic carboxylates, oxyanions of elements from Groups IIIA through VIIA of the Periodic Table of Elements, and combinations thereof; and separating at least part of the treatment solution from the carrier, or the precursor thereof.

Abstract: A catalyst for the epoxidation of an olefin comprising a carrier and, deposited thereon, silver, a rhenium promoter, a first co-promoter, and a second co-promoter; wherein the quantity of the rhenium promoter deposited on the carrier is greater than 1 mmole/kg, relative to the weight of the catalyst; the first co-promoter is selected from sulfur, phosphorus, boron, and mixtures thereof; the second co-promoter is selected from tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, and mixtures thereof; the total quantity of the first co-promoter and the second co-promoter deposited on the carrier is at most 5.0 mmole/kg, relative to the weight of the catalyst; and wherein the carrier has a monomodal, bimodal or multimodal pore size distribution, a pore diameter of 0.01-200 ?m, a specific surface area of 0.03-10 m2/g, a pore volume of 0.2-0.7 cm3/g, wherein the median pore diameter is 0.1-100 ?m, and a water absorption of 10-80%.

Abstract: A process for the production of an olefin oxide, which process comprises reacting a feed comprising an olefin and oxygen in a reactor tube in the presence of a silver-containing catalyst, wherein the presence of water in the catalyst bed is controlled such that the ratio of the partial pressure of water (PPH2O) divided by the vapor pressure of water (VPH2O) is less than 0.006, preferably less than 0.004.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a carrier which process comprises incorporating into the carrier at any stage of the carrier preparation a strength-enhancing additive. Also provided is the resultant carrier having incorporated therein a strength-enhancing additive and a catalyst comprising the carrier. Also provided is a process for the epoxidation of an olefin employing the catalyst. Also provided is a method of using the olefin oxide so produced for making a 1,2-diol, a 1,2-diol ether or an alkanolamine.

Abstract: A process for the production of an olefin oxide, which process comprises reacting a feed comprising an olefin and oxygen in a reactor tube in the presence of a silver-containing catalyst, wherein the presence of water in the catalyst bed is controlled such that the ratio of the partial pressure of water (PPH2O) divided by the vapor pressure of water (VPH2O) is less than 0.006, preferably less than 0.004.

Abstract: A process for treating a carrier, or a precursor thereof, to at least partly remove impurities from the carrier, or the precursor thereof, comprising: contacting the carrier, or the precursor thereof, with a treatment solution comprising a salt in a concentration of at most 0.05 molar, wherein the salt comprises a cation and an anion, and wherein the cation is selected from ammonium, phosphonium, organic cations and combinations thereof, and wherein the anion is selected from organic anions, inorganic carboxylates, oxyanions of elements from Groups IIIA through VIIA of the Periodic Table of Elements, and combinations thereof; and separating at least part of the treatment solution from the carrier, or the precursor thereof.

Abstract: A process for the production of an olefin oxide, which process comprises reacting a feed comprising an olefin and oxygen in a reactor tube in the presence of a silver-containing catalyst, wherein the presence of water in the catalyst bed is controlled such that the ratio of the partial pressure of water (PPH2O) divided by the vapor pressure of water (VPH2O) is less than 0.006, preferably less than 0.004.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides processes for the start-up of an ethylene epoxidation process comprising: a. contacting a high selectivity epoxidation catalyst with a feed comprising ethylene, oxygen and an organic chloride for a period of time such that vinyl chloride is produced and capable of being detected in a reactor outlet stream or a recycle gas loop; b. increasing the temperature of the high selectivity epoxidation catalyst to at least about 220° C.; c. subsequently reducing the level of organic chloride in the feed over a period of from about 12 to about 36 hours so as to increase the temperature of the catalyst to a temperature of from about 250° C. to about 265° C.; and d. subsequently adjusting the level of organic chloride in the feed to a value sufficient to produce ethylene oxide at a substantially optimum selectivity at a temperature of from about 250° C. to about 265° C.

Abstract: A process is provided for preparing a carrier which process comprises incorporating into the carrier at any stage of the carrier preparation a strength-enhancing additive. Also provided is the resultant carrier having incorporated therein a strength-enhancing additive and a catalyst comprising the carrier. Also provided is a process for the epoxidation of an olefin employing the catalyst. Also provided is a method of using the olefin oxide so produced for making a 1,2-diol, a 1,2-diol ether or an alkanolamine.

Abstract: A process for treating a carrier, or a precursor thereof, to at least partly remove impurities comprising contacting the carrier, or the precursor thereof, with a treatment solution comprising a salt; a process for preparing a catalyst; the catalyst; a process for preparing an olefin oxide by reacting an olefin with oxygen in the presence of the catalyst; and a process for preparing a 1,2-diol, a 1,2-diol ether or an alkanolamine.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for the epoxidation of an olefin, which process comprises reacting a feed comprising an olefin and oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a carrier and silver deposited on the carrier, which carrier comprises at least 85 weight percent ?-alumina and has a surface area of at least 1.3 m2/g, a median pore diameter of more than 0.8 ?m, and a pore size distribution wherein at least 80% of the total pore volume is contained in pores with diameters in the range of from 0.1 to 10 ?m and at least 80% of the pore volume contained in the pores with diameters in the range of from 0.1 to 10 ?m is contained in pores with diameters in the range of from 0.3 to 10 ?m.

Abstract: A process for preparing a 1,2-diol, a 1,2-diol ether or an alkanolamine comprising converting an olefin oxide, wherein the olefin oxide has been obtained by a process for the epoxidation of an olefin, said process comprising using a catalyst comprising a carrier and silver deposited thereon, wherein the carrier comprises at least 85 weight percent ?-alumina and has a surface area of at least 1.3 m2/g, a median pore diameter of more than 0.8 ?m, and a pore size distribution wherein at least 80% of the total pore is contained in pores with diameters in the range of from 0.1 to 10 ?m, and at least 80% of the pore volume contained in the pores with diameters in the range of from 0.1 to 10 ?m is contained in pores with diameters in the range of from 0.3 to 10 ?m.

Abstract: A catalyst for the epoxidation of an olefin comprising a carrier and, deposited thereon, silver, a rhenium promoter, a first co-promoter, and a second co-promoter; wherein the quantity of the rhenium promoter deposited on the carrier is greater than 1 mmole/kg, relative to the weight of the catalyst; the first co-promoter is selected from sulfur, phosphorus, boron, and mixtures thereof; the second co-promoter is selected from tungsten, molybdenum, chromium, and mixtures thereof; the total quantity of the first co-promoter and the second co-promoter deposited on the carrier is at most 5.0 mmole/kg, relative to the weight of the catalyst; and wherein the carrier has a monomodal, bimodal or multimodal pore size distribution, a pore diameter of 0.01-200 ?m, a specific surface area of 0.03-10 m2/g, a pore volume of 0.2-0.7 cm3/g, wherein the median pore diameter is 0.1-100 ?m, and a water absorption of 10-80%.