PROCESS FOR OPERATING THE EPOXIDATION OF ETHYLENE

摘要

A PROCESS FOR THE VAPOR PHASE OXIDATION OF ETHYLENE TO ETHYLENE OXIDE, WHICH PROCESS INVOLVES REACTING A REACTION MIXTURE HAVING ETHYLENE AND OXYGEN IN THE PRESENCE OF A SUPPORTED HIGHLY SELECTIVE SILVER-BASED CATALYST BY: OPERATING AT AN INITIAL OPERATION PHASE WHEREIN FRESH CATALYST IS USED, AND OPERATING AT A FURTHER OPERATION PHASE WHEN A CUMULATIVE ETHYLENE OXIDE PRODUCTION EXCEEDS 0.01 KT ETHYLENE OXIDE PER M3 OF CATALYST, WHEREIN IN SAID FURTHER OPERATION PHASE THE CONCENTRATION OF ETHYLENE IN THE REACTION MIXTURE IS INCREASED; AND A METHOD OF USING ETHYLENE OXIDE INTO THE 1 .2-ETHANEDIOL OR THE 1 ,2-ETHANEDIOL ETHER WHEREIN THE ETHYLENE OXIDE HAS BEEN OBTAINED BY THE PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ETHYLENE OXIDE. (FIG. 1)