A method for producing a catalyst effective in the oxidative conversion of ethylene to ethylene oxide, the method comprising: (i) impregnating a porous refractory carrier with a sub-catalytic level of silver ion in a range of 0.1 wt % to 1 wt % of silver by weight of the carrier and silver, and at least partially reducing said silver ion to elemental silver to produce a low-silver catalyst precursor having isolated silver atoms or silver nanoparticles on surfaces of said refractory carrier; and (ii) further impregnating the low-silver catalyst precursor with a catalytic amount of silver ion of at least 10 wt % total amount of silver and at least one promoting species by weight of the carrier and silver, and subjecting the further impregnated carrier to an elevated temperature of at least 200 C. to completely reduce silver ion to elemental silver in the carrier. The low-silver catalyst precursor produced in step (i) is also described in detail. Methods for using the catalyst produced in step (ii) for the oxidative conversion of ethylene to ethylene oxide are also described.

Processes for reducing the amount of a gaseous iodide-containing impurity present in a recycle gas stream used in the production of ethylene oxide, in particular a vinyl iodide impurity, are provided. Processes for producing ethylene oxide, ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol, and associated reaction systems are similarly provided.

Processes for reducing the amount of a gaseous iodide-containing impurity present in a recycle gas stream used in the production of ethylene oxide, in particular a vinyl iodide impurity, are provided. Processes for producing ethylene oxide, ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol, and associated reaction systems are similarly provided.

Processes for reducing the amount of a gaseous iodide-containing impurity present in a recycle gas stream used in the production of ethylene oxide, in particular alkyl iodide and vinyl iodide impurities, are provided. Processes for producing ethylene oxide, ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol, and associated reaction systems are similarly provided.

Processes for reducing the amount of a gaseous iodide-containing impurity present in a recycle gas stream used in the production of ethylene oxide, in particular alkyl iodide and vinyl iodide impurities, are provided. Processes for producing ethylene oxide, ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol, and associated reaction systems are similarly provided.

Methods for conditioning an ethylene epoxidation catalyst are provided. The conditioning methods comprise contacting an ethylene epoxidation catalyst comprising a carrier, having silver and a rhenium promoter deposited thereon, with a conditioning feed gas comprising oxygen for a period of time of at least 2 hours at a temperature that is above 180 C. and at most 250 C., wherein the contacting of the ethylene epoxidation catalyst with the conditioning feed gas occurs in an epoxidation reactor and in the absence of ethylene. Associated methods for the epoxidation of ethylene are also provided.

Methods for conditioning an ethylene epoxidation catalyst are provided. The conditioning methods comprise contacting an ethylene epoxidation catalyst comprising a carrier, having silver and a rhenium promoter deposited thereon, with a conditioning feed gas comprising oxygen for a period of time of at least 2 hours at a temperature that is above 180 C. and at most 250 C., wherein the contacting of the ethylene epoxidation catalyst with the conditioning feed gas occurs in an epoxidation reactor and in the absence of ethylene. Associated methods for the epoxidation of ethylene are also provided.

A porous body is provided with enhanced fluid transport properties that is capable of performing or facilitating separations, or performing reactions and/or providing areas for such separations or reactions to take place. The porous body includes at least 80 percent alpha alumina and has a pore volume from 0.3 mL/g to 1.2 mL/g and a surface area from 0.3 m.sup.2/g to 3.0 m.sup.2/g. The porous body further includes a pore architecture that provides at least one of a tortuosity of 7.0 or less, a constriction of 4.0 or less and a permeability of 30 mdarcys or greater. The porous body can be used in a wide variety of applications such as, for example, as a filter, as a membrane or as a catalyst carrier.

A porous body is provided with enhanced fluid transport properties that is capable of performing or facilitating separations, or performing reactions and/or providing areas for such separations or reactions to take place. The porous body includes at least 80 percent alpha alumina and has a pore volume from 0.3 mL/g to 1.2 mL/g and a surface area from 0.3 m.sup.2/g to 3.0 m.sup.2/g. The porous body further includes a pore architecture that provides at least one of a tortuosity of 7.0 or less, a constriction of 4.0 or less and a permeability of 30 mdarcys or greater. The porous body can be used in a wide variety of applications such as, for example, as a filter, as a membrane or as a catalyst carrier.

A conditioning process that is employed with a high selectivity catalyst (HSC) during an initial phase (i.e., start-up) of the epoxidation process is provided. The HSC conditioning process of the present disclosure ensures that the heat release from a catalyst bed containing an HSC during a start-up operation is less than 2000 kJ/Kgcat.Math.hr. The HSC containing catalyst bed that has been conditioned by the process of the present disclosure exhibits improved performance (i.e., EO selectivity) and reduced hot spots.