METHOD FOR TREATING CATALYST FOR PRODUCING ETHYLENE OXIDE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING ETHYLENE OXIDE

摘要

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for treating a catalyst for producing ethylene oxide lowered in selectivity to ethylene oxide due to preservation, intended to restore the performance thereof to that just after produced without lowering its activity, and to provide a method for producing ethylene oxide in high selectivity and activity in the presence of the catalyst after thus treated. SOLUTION: This method for treating a catalyst for producing ethylene oxide comprises heat treatment of the catalyst at 120-250 deg.C in an oxygen- containing gas atmosphere with an oxygen concentration of 1-10 vol.% until it is used for producing ethylene oxide; wherein the catalyst bears silver and at least one alkali metal and obtained by impregnating a carrier with a solution containing a silver compound and a complex-forming agent compound followed by baking. The other objective method for producing ethylene oxide comprises reaction between oxygen and ethylene as a raw material in the presence of the catalyst after thus treated.