Process for preparing ethylene oxide

In a process for preparing ethylene oxide by the catalytic vapor phase oxidation of ethylene with molecular oxygen in the presence of a catalyst, the improvement which comprises using as catalyst a catalytic composition whose constituent metallic elements and atomic ratio are represented by the general formula

• Ag.sub.a X.sub.c Tl.sub.d K.sub.e Cs.sub.f O.sub.g
• wherein X represents at least one metallic element of the group consisting of tin and antimony, a, d, e, f and g are the number of atoms of silver, thallium, potassium, cesium and oxygen, respectively, and c is the sum of the number of atoms of at least one metallic element of the group consisting of tin and antimony;
• and when a is 100, c is a number from 0.01 to 0.15, d is a number from 0 (exclusive) to 0.1, e is a number from 0 to 0.1, f is a number from 0 to 0.1, with the proviso that the relationship 0.005<d + e + f .ltoreq. 0.2 is satisfied, and g is a number determined by the valence requirements of the other elements present, said catalytic composition being supported on a carrier having a 14 area of less than 1 square meter per gram, a particle size of 3/16- 5/16 inch, a pore diameter of 10- 300 microns and a porosity of 20- 45%.

In a process for preparing ethylene oxide by the catalytic vapor phase oxidation of ethylene with molecular oxygen in the presence of a catalyst, the improvement which comprises using as catalyst a catalytic composition whose constituent metallic elements include silver, tin, antimony, thallium, potassium and cesium and whose atomic ratio is represented by the general formula

• Ag.sub.a X.sub.c Tl.sub.d K.sub.e Cs.sub.f O.sub.g
• wherein X represents both tin and antimony, a, d, e, f and g are the number of atoms of silver, thallium, potassium, cesium and oxygen, respectively, and c is the number of atoms of tin and antimony;
• and when a is 100, c is a number from 0.001 to 0.15, d is a number from 0 (exclusive) to 0.1, e is a number from 0 (exclusive) to 0.1, f is a number from 0 (exclusive) to 0.1, with the proviso that the relationship 0<d + e + f .ltoreq. 0.3 is satisfied, and g is a number determined by the valence requirements of the other elements present, said catalytic composition being supported on a carrier having a surface area of less than 1 square meter per gram, a particle size of 3/16 - 5/16 inch, a pore diameter of 10 - 300 microns and a porosity of 20 - 45%.

In a process for preparing ethylene oxide by the catalytic vapor phase oxidation of ethylene with molecular oxygen in the presence of a catalyst, the improvement which comprises using as catalyst a catalystic composition whose constituent metallic elements include silver, tin, antimony, thallium, potassium and cesium and whose atomic ratio is represented by the general formula

• Ag.sub.a X.sub.c Tl.sub.d K.sub.e Cs.sub.f O.sub.g
• wherein X represents both tin and antimony, a, d, e, f and g are the number of atoms of silver, thallium, potassium, cesium and oxygen, respectively, and c is the sum of the number of atoms of tin and antimony;
• and when a is 100, c is a number from 0.01 to 0.15, d is a number from 0 (exclusive) to 0.1, e is a number from 0 (exclusive) to 0.1, f is a number from 0 (exclusive) to 0.1, with the proviso that the relationship 0.005<d + e + f .ltoreq. 0.2 is satisfied, and g is a number determined by the valence requirements of the other elements present, said catalytic composition being supported on a carrier having a surface area of less than 1 square meter per gram, a particle size of 3/16 - 5/16 inch, a pore diameter of 10 - 300 microns and a porosity of 20 - 45%.