Process for preparing silver catalysts

Patent 4864042 Issued on September 5, 1989. Estimated Expiration Date:

January 30, 2007. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

3345199

Ethylene oxide process
Patent #: 4012425
Issued on: 03/15/1977
Inventor: Nielsen , et al.

Process for improving the activity of used supported silver catalysts
Patent #: 4177169
Issued on: 12/04/1979
Inventor: Rebsdat , et al.

Method of making catalysts for the production of ethylene oxide
Patent #: 4248741
Issued on: 02/03/1981
Inventor: Wernli , et al.

Ethylene oxide production
Patent #: 4321206
Issued on: 03/23/1982
Inventor: Cavitt

Process for preparing a silver catalyst
Patent #: 4342667
Issued on: 08/03/1982
Inventor: Armstrong , et al.

Process for preparing a supported silver catalyst Patent #: 4455392
Issued on: 06/19/1984
Inventor: Warner , et al.

Inventor

Armstrong, William D.

Application

No. 07/009323 filed on 01/30/1987

US Classes:

549/534Silver containing catalyst utilized

Examiners

Primary: Raymond, Richard L.
Assistant: Russell, Mark W.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Johnson; Kenneth H.

International Classes

C07D 301/10 (20060101)
C07D 301/00 (20060101)
B01J 23/50 (20060101)
B01J 23/54 (20060101)
B01J 23/66 (20060101)
B01J 23/48 (20060101)

Abstract

A supported silver catalyst for the oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide with molecular oxygen is made by impregnating a support with a hydrocarbon solution of a silver salt of a neo-acid having 7 or more carbon atoms, substantially free of water and said neo-acid. Preferably, the hydrocarbon solvent is toluene, xylene, ethyl benzene, cyclohexane, or cumene. The impregnated support is dried and the silver is activated under conditions chosen to provide the optimum selectivity to ethylene oxide. Thereafter, the activated silver catalyst maybe impregnated with an alkali metal solution sufficient to increase selectivity of the silver catalyst above its alkali-free state. The amount of alkali metal on the finished catalyst is the optimum for the particular support selected and preferably will be about 1-6×10-3 gew/kg of catalyst. The catalyst may also include additional promoters, such as the alkaline earth metals, preferbly barium.