Silver catalyst for the oxidation of ethylene and process for the production of ethylene oxide

摘要

The invention relates to a silver catalyst having a silver content of 10 to 25% by mass for the partial oxidation of ethylene with molecular oxygen in the gas phase to give ethylene oxide and a process for the preparation of ethylene oxide with this catalyst. The catalyst, in which the silver is present in particles on a macroporous ceramic support, surpasses the comparable catalysts of the prior art as a result of increased selectivity (with high activity) and/or a more favourable ageing behaviour. The process for the preparation of ethylene oxide is distinguished by an improved economic efficiency. The average diameter of the silver particles is less than 0.4 times the number-average pore diameter of the untreated support.