Isomerization of alkylene oxide

Claim 1

IN THE ISOMERIZATION OF AN ALKYLENE OXIDE CONTAINING 3 TO 5 CARBON ATOMS TO THE CORRESPONDING ALCOHOL, WHEREIN SAID OXIDE IS CONTACTED IN THE GASEOUS STATE WITH A LEACHED BASIC LITHIUM PHOSPHATE CATALYST AT A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 250* C. TO 350* C., SAID CATALYST INITIALLY HAVING AN ACITIVITY EFFECTING MORE, THAN 40% CONVERSION IN A SINGLE PASS AND GRADUALLY DECREASING IN EFFECTIVENESS DURING USE, AND WHEREIN THE SAID ISOMERIZATION IS INTERRUPTED FOR CATALYST ACTIVATION, THE PROCESS OF RESTORING SUBSTANTIALLY THE INITIAL CATALYST ACTIVITY CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF CONTACTING THE CATALYST AFTER USE IN SAID ISOMERIZATION WITH AN AQUEOUS LIQUID CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF AT LEAST 30% BY WEIGHT OF WATER AND UP TO 70% BY WEIGHT OF A SATURATED ALIPHATIC SOLVENT COMPOSED OF OXYGEN, HYDROGEN AND UP TO SIX CARBON ATOMS, SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ETHERS, OXIDES, KETONES, ALDEHYDES, ACIDS, ALCOHOLS AND ESTERS, AT A TEMPERATURE OF ABOUT 50* TO 250* C. AND AT A PRESSURE SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN SAID AQUEOUS LIQUID IN THE LIQUID PHASE, AND REMOVING THE AQUEOUS LIQUID FROM THE SAID CATALYST.