Process for manufacturing ethylene oxide using scaled selectivity values

Abstract

Disclosed herein are methods of using scaled selectivities to assist in determining whether changes to the value of a target ethylene oxide production parameter—such as ethylene oxide production rate—used in the process of epoxidizing ethylene with a high-selectivity catalyst, have caused the process to move away from optimal operation. If the deviation from optimal operation has not worsened, it is generally unnecessary to perform a full optimization study even if the value of a target ethylene oxide production parameter has changed, which reduces or eliminates process disturbances caused by carrying out such studies. Methods are also disclosed which use both scaled selectivities and scaled reaction temperatures. If scaled selectivities reveal that a change in the value of a target ethylene oxide production parameter has moved the process away from optimal operation, scaled reaction temperatures can, under certain conditions, provide an indication of the directions in which the reaction temperature and/or overall catalyst chloriding effectiveness should be changed to move toward optimal operation. If a change in the value of a target ethylene oxide production parameter has improved the scaled selectivity, the scaled reaction temperature may also be used to guide further adjustments which may further improve scaled selectivity.