EP0057066A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Process for the production of ethylene oxide
Assignee: Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1982-01-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-01-14
Abstract
Abstract Ethylene is oxidised to ethylene oxide over a silver containing catalyst which is promoted by high concentrations of potassium, rubidium or cesium, in the presence of a chlorine containing reaction inhibitor and at least 5,000 moles of ethane per mole of inhibitor expressed as its vinyl chloride equivalent. Permanent absorption of chlorine onto the catalyst (which leads to catalyst decay) is low in this process.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard William Clayton
- 👤 Percy Hayden
- 👤 David William Johnson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 11:19
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J23/00; B01J23/38; B01J23/54; B01J23/66; C; C07; C07D; C07D301/00; C07D301/02; C07D301/03; C07D301/04; C07D301/08; C07D301/10; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/50; Y02P20/52
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A process of producing ethylene oxide by contacting ethylene with oxygen in the presence of a chlorine containing reaction inhibitor and a silver containing catalyst which is promoted with potassium, rubidium and/or cesium characterised in that ethane is present in a ratio of at least 5,000 moles per mole of reaction inhibitor expressed as its vinyl chloride equivalent and that the potassium, rubidium and/or cesium content is at least 5 x 10 -6 gram atoms per gram of catalyst in a form which is extractable by contact with dilute nitric acid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
A process of producing ethylene oxide by contacting ethylene with oxygen in the presence of a chlorine containing reaction inhibitor and a silver containing catalyst which is promoted with potassium, rubidium and/or cesium characterised in that ethane is present in a ratio of at least 5,000 moles per mole of reaction inhibitor expressed as its vinyl chloride equivalent and that the potassium, rubidium and/or cesium content is at least 5 x 10 -6 gram atoms per gram of catalyst in a form which is extractable by contact with dilute nitric acid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as claimed in Claim 1 in which at least 8,000 moles of ethane are present per mole of reaction inhibitor expressed as its vinyl chloride equivalent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which more than 8 x 10 -6 gram atoms of potassium, rubidium and/ or cesium are present per gram of catalyst in a form which is extractable by contact with dilute nitric acid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3 in which at most 100,000 moles of ethane are present per mole of reaction inhibitor expressed as its vinyl chloride equivalent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as claimed in any preceding claim in which the promoter is cesium.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as claimed in any preceding claim in which the reaction inhibitor is ethylene dichloride or vinyl chloride.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process as claimed in any preceding claim in which the catalyst comprises 3 to 30% by weight of silver supported on a porous heat resisting-support which has a specific surface area of 1 to 5 square meters per gram.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as claimed in any preceding claim in which the amount of ethane present is in the range 0.3 to 5% by volume of the gases fed to the reaction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as claimed in any preceding claim in which 0.1 to 10 parts per million by volume of reaction inhibitor expressed as its vinyl chloride equivalent is present.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as claimed in any preceding claim in which the catalyst comprises silver supported on an alpha alumina support.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB1213483A
Cited
GB1314613A
Cited
GB1382099A
Cited
GB1512625A
Cited
GB1563051A
Cited
GB2042362A
Cited
GB2045636A
Cited
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