PROCESS FOR THE START-UP OF AN EPOXIDATION PROCESS, A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF ETHYLENE OXIDE, A 1,2-DIOL, A 1,2-DIOL ETHER, A 1,2-CARBONATE, OR AN ALKANOLAMINE

摘要

A process is provided for the start-up of an ethylene epoxidation process comprising: (a) contacting a catalyst bed comprising a high selectivity epoxidation catalyst with a feed comprising ethylene, oxygen and an organic chloride for a period of time until an increase of at least 1x10-5 mole-% of vinyl chloride (calculated as the moles of vinyl chloride relative to the total gas mixture), preferably 2x10-5 mole-% of vinyl chloride is detected in a reactor outlet gas or a recycle gas loop; and (b) subsequently adjusting the quantity of organic chloride in the feed to a value sufficient to produce ethylene oxide at a substantially optimum selectivity.