Process for preparing an epoxidation catalyst

US11612881B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Dow Technology Investments LLC · US

Inventors

• Daniel Grohol · Midland, US
• Thomas Z. Srnak · Arlington Heights, US
• Cathy L. Tway · Midland, US
• George L. Athens · Freeland, US
• Kyle R. Essenmacher · Midland, US
• Gary M. Seabolt · Freeport, US
• Tim D. Munro · Midland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 30, 2018
• Grant date: Mar 28, 2023
• Expiry date: May 30, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/52
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for preparing a silver-containing catalyst for the oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide (EO) including the steps of: providing a support having pores; providing a silver-containing impregnation solution; adding an amount of surfactant to the impregnation solution; contacting the support with the surfactant-containing impregnation solution; and removing at least a portion of the impregnation solution prior to fixing the silver upon the carrier in a manner which preferentially removes impregnation solution not contained in the pores. The use of the surfactant results in improved drainage of the silver impregnation solution from the carrier exteriors during the catalyst synthesis. As a result, the amount of silver-containing impregnation solution necessary for the synthesis of the EO catalyst was reduced by up to 15% without reducing the catalyst performance.