The Dow Chemical Company

William E Fry

Oliver C Ainsworth

Walter L Wernli

Harold W Young, Jr

Lawrence E Neil, Jr

Steve F Janda

An alumina support which contains cesium is prepared by adding a fusible compound of cesium to alumina along with known binders and porosity control agents. The cesium compound should be fusible below the temperature at which the alumina fuses. Such a support is especially useful as a support for a silver catalyst employed in the oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide.

Alumina compositions useful as catalyst supports for ethylene oxidation

A process of making a high purity, low surface area porous alumina support having improved crush strength and abrasion resistance which comprises employing with the alumina a small amount of barium aluminate or silicate during its manufacture.

Alumina compositions of improved strength useful as catalyst supports

An improved process for preparing a silver catalyst which comprises impregnating a porous alumina support with a silver salt, preferably silver nitrate, by contacting a quantity of the support with an aqueous solution of the salt in sufficient amount to be completely absorbed by said support while under a vacuum. A dispersing agent is also employed in the aqueous silver salt solution. The support is dried by heating, e.g. 100.degree. C., under vacuum and then, while still under vacuum, impregnated with a reducing agent employing an amount sufficient to be completely absorbed by the support. Subsequent heating at a higher temperature, e.g. 250.degree. C., reduces the silver salt to silver metal. A catalyst is produced which, when employed for the oxidation of ethylene, permits the process to run 5.degree.-10.degree. C. cooler at the normal conversion and also gives an improved yield.

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Angleton, TX, United States of America

William E Fry