Abstract: Disclosed is an improved process for the epoxidation of ethylene, wherein ethylene is reacted with oxygen in a mol ratio of about one, in the presence of a silver metal catalyst and a halide gas phase inhibitor, at a pressure of about 200 to 300 psig, said improvements comprising: introducing into the reaction zone a feed gas mixture comprising:30 to 90 mol % ethylene,0 to 55 mol % methane,0 to 15 mol % one or more inert, non-hydrocarbon gases or mixtures thereof,0 to 10 mol % carbon dioxide,2 to 10 mol % oxygen,1 to 50 ppm organic halide gas phase inhibitor, and maintaining the temperature in the reaction zone between 180.degree. and 350.degree. C.

Abstract: A process for the direct oxidation of propylene in the presence of oxygen, a silver catalyst and chlorobenzene as a solvent is described. Halocarbon co-solvents such as trichlorotrifluoroethane are used to enhance selectivity to the desired propylene oxide. The direct oxidation is preferably run at a temperature between about 150.degree. to 250.degree. C.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for the vapor phase epoxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide which includes intimately contacting an ethylene-containing feed stream with an epoxidizing amount of molecular oxygen epoxidizing agent in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of an improved catalyst comprising an inorganic porous support containing metallic silver and an effective amount of a cesium promoter which have been deposited coincidentally on the support, and, optionally, an effective amount of at least one inhibitor which retards combustion of ethylene to carbon dioxide at temperatures of from about 200.degree. C. to about 300.degree. C.The novel silver catalyst is best described in terms of its method of preparation. The catalyst is prepared by impregnating certain inorganic porous substrates with a specific silver carboxylate/amine complex, such as silver oxalate/diethylenetriamine complex, impregnating solution containing an effective amount of a cesium salt.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for the vapor phase epoxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide which includes intimately contacting an ethylene-containing feed stream with an epoxidizing amount of molecular oxgyen epoxidizing agent in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a novel supported, activated silver catalyst and, preferably in the presence of an effective amount of at least one inhibitor which retards combustion of ethylene to carbon dioxide at a temperature of from about 200.degree. C. to about 300.degree. C.The novel silver catalyst is best described in terms of its method of preparation. The catalyst is prepared by impregnating certain inorganic porous substrates with a specific silver carboxylate/amine complex impregnating solution. The impregnated support it then heated in order to evaporate volatiles, decompose the complex and activate the catalyst.

Abstract: A highly-active catalyst is prepared by abrading or wearing away the surface of a silver catalyst whereby 1 to about 10 weight percent of the catalyst is removed. The initial silver catalyst is formed, for example, by impregnating a porous catalyst support with a solution of a silver salt an organic amine solubilizing/reducing agent, an aqueous solvent and a cesium or rubidium salt sufficient to deposit on the support an effective amount of the said alkali metal and subsequently heating the impregnated support at an elevated temperature to evaporate volatiles and activate the catalyst.

Abstract: A process for preparing a modified, activated silver catalyst useful in the vapor phase epoxidation of ethylene with molecular oxygen is disclosed. The improved catalyst comprises an inorganic, porous support containing metallic silver and an effective amount of a higher alkali metal promoter which have been deposited coincidentally on the support.The catalyst is prepared by impregnating a porous inorganic substrate with a solution comprising a silver compound such as a silver carboxylate, an organic amine solubilizing/reducing agent which also serves as a complexing agent for the silver compound, a perchlorate salt of a higher alkali metal, and an aqueous solvent. Optionally, the impregnating solution may contain at least one perhalogenated acid, such as perchloric acid. In a final step the impregnated support is heated at temperatures of from about 50.degree. C. to about 300.degree. C. to evaporate volatiles, decompose the silver compound to metallic silver and activate the catalyst.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for the vapor phase epoxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide which includes intimately contacting an ethylene-containing feed stream with an epoxidizing amount of molecular oxygen epoxidizing agent in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a novel supported, activated silver catalyst and, preferably in the presence of an effective amount of at least one inhibitor which retards combustion of ethylene to carbon dioxide at a temperature of from about 200.degree. C. to about 300.degree. C.The novel silver catalyst is best described in terms of its method of preparation. The catalyst is prepared by impregnating certain inorganic porous substrates with a specific silver carboxylate/amine complex impregnating solution. The impregnated support is then heated in order to evaporate volatiles, decompose the complex and activate the catalyst.

Abstract: A novel, stable, activated silver catalyst useful in the vapor phase epoxidation of ethylene with an oxygen-containing epoxidizing agent is provided. The novel catalyst is prepared by impregnating certain inorganic porous supports with a silver caboxylate/amine complex impregnating solution of a silver carboxylate solubilized in an amine-containing complexing agent selected from:(a) diamines wherein at least one amino moiety is primary or secondary, but no more than one is primary;(b) polyamines containing at least three amino moieties wherein at least one is primary or secondary; or(c) amino ethers containing at least one ether linkage and at least one amino moiety which is primary or secondary;And heating the impregnated support at temperatures of from about 50.degree. C to about 300.degree. C to evaporate volatiles, decompose the complex and activate the catalyst. The novel catalyst shows excellent mechanical strength and superior yield and selectivity in air epoxidation processes.

Abstract: A novel cesium modified, activated silver catalyst useful in the vapor phase epoxidation of ethylene with a molecular oxygen containing epoxidizing agent is disclosed. The improved catalyst comprises an inorganic, porous support containing metallic silver and an effective amount of a cesium promoter which have been deposited coincidentally on the support.The catalyst is prepared by impregnating a porous inorganic substrate with a solution comprising solvent, a silver carboxylate solubilized in an amine-containing complexing agent selected from(a) diamines wherein at least one amine moiety is primary or secondary, but no more than one is primary;(b) polyamines containing at least three amino moieties wherein at least one is primary or secondary; or(c) amino ethers containing at least one ether linkage and at least one amino moiety which is primary or secondary;And an effective amount of a salt of cesium; and, heating the impregnated support at temperatures of from about 50.degree. C to about 300.degree.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for the liquid phase epoxidation of an olefin to the corresponding oxirane which includes intimately contacting an olefin compound with molecular oxygen in the presence of a suitable solvent and a catalytically effective amount of a molybdenum containing catalyst material at a temperature of from about 210.degree. C to about 270.degree. C under a pressure sufficient to maintain the reactants, products and by-products substantially in liquid phase.The molybdenum containing catalyst material is characterized as an oxidized alkyl molybdate complex which is substantially soluble in the reaction mixture containing the olefin, solvent, products and by-products. The molybdenum containing catalyst material is prepared by contacting an inorganic molybdenum compound with an aliphatic monohydric alcohol, in the presence of an effective amount of a weak base, to form a lower oligomeric alkyl molybdate compound.