Inventors:
James A. Cusumano - Rahway NJ
Assignee:
Exxon Research and Engineering Company - Linden NJ
International Classification:
C07D30110
Abstract:
The instant invention relates to a process for oxidizing olefins to their corresponding epoxides by contacting said olefin with oxygen in the presence of a multimetallic condition at oxidation conditions. Preferably, this process is utilized to oxidize ethylene to ethylene oxide by contacting ethylene in the presence of oxygen with a silver catalyst promoted by one or more metals combined with silver in an alloy. The promoter metals are selected from the group consisting of platinum, rhenium, palladium, ruthenium, iron, copper, and gold. Preferably, the catalysts used in the process of the instant invention are bimetallic catalysts comprising silver in combination with a promoter metal selected from the group consisting of palladium, ruthenium or rhenium, preferably rhenium and ruthenium, and most preferably rhenium. The catalysts are prepared by contacting a silver salt or silver oxide having a surface area of from 20-40 M. sup. 2 /gm with a solution containing a decomposable salt of said promoter metal, at impregnating conditions, drying said impregnated salt and activating said dried impregnated silver oxide or silver salt by contacting with a reducing environment, preferably hydrogen at a temperature of from 100. degree. to 500. degree.
