Catalyst and process for oxychlorination of ethylene to dichloroethane

A process for producing a catalyst for the oxychlorination of ethylene to 1,2-dichloroethane, the process comprising the steps of:

• (i) impregnating, within a first step, an alumina support with a first aqueous solution including copper, an alkaline earth metal, and an alkali metal to thereby form a first catalyst component;
• and
• (ii) impregnating, within a subsequent step, the first catalyst component with a second aqueous solution including copper and alkaline earth metal, where the second aqueous solution is substantially devoid of alkali metal, to thereby form the supported catalyst.

An oxychlorination process comprising the step of:

• converting ethylene to 1,2-dichloroethane in the presence of a catalyst, oxygen, and hydrogen chloride, where the catalyst is produced by:
• (i) impregnating, within a first step, an alumina support with a first aqueous solution including copper, an alkaline earth metal, and an alkali metal to thereby form a first catalyst component;
• and (ii) impregnating, within a subsequent step, the first catalyst component with a second aqueous solution including copper and alkaline earth metal, where the second aqueous solution is substantially devoid of alkali metal, to thereby form the supported catalyst.