Process for the preparation of silver catalysts for the production of ethylene oxide

US4305844A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Chemische Werke Huels Aktiengesellschaft · US

Inventors

• Erwin Vangermain · Marl, DE
• Willi Brauckmann · Marl, DE
• Hans-Jurgen Erberich · Marl, DE
• Horst Ueberschaer · Marl, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 31, 1980
• Grant date: Dec 15, 1981
• Expiry date: Mar 31, 2000

Classification

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

Abstract

A process for preparing silver catalysts containing alkaline earth metals and alkali metals as promoters for the production of ethylene oxide by oxidizing ethylene with oxygen or oxygen-containing gases. The silver catalysts are prepared by: PA1 (a) depositing a suspension consisting of silver oxide and an aqueous solution of an organic silver salt on a porous substrate, the molar ratio of the silver in the silver oxide to the silver in the silver salt being from about 35 to 65%, and periodically increasing the pressure (decreasing the vacuum) being used during the absorption; PA1 (b) carrying out an interim drying as a thin moving bed in an inert gas atmosphere at temperatures between about 50.degree. and 150.degree. C. to prepare an interim product; PA1 (c) depositing a further layer of the silver-containing suspension on the interim product in the manner described in step (a), this suspension additionally containing compounds of barium and cesium, rubidium or a mixture of cesium and rubidium in sufficient amounts that the finished catalyst contains from about 0.01 to 0.25% by weight of barium and from about 0.001 to 0.05% by weight of cesium, rubidium, or a mixture of cesium and…