A method for the oxidation of ethylene to form ethylene oxide which comprises: providing an aqueous stream containing ethylene glycol and impurities; introducing the aqueous stream in a first ion exchange treatment bed to reduce the content of these impurities; determining whether an outlet of the first ion exchange treatment bed has a conductivity greater than about 5 S/cm; upon determining that the outlet of the first ion exchange treatment bed has a conductivity greater than about 5 S/cm, introducing the outlet of the first ion exchange treatment bed into a second ion exchange treatment bed; and upon determining that the outlet of the first ion exchange treatment bed has a conductivity greater than about 60 S/cm, redirecting the introduction of the aqueous stream to the second ion exchange treatment bed and regenerating the first ion exchange bed.

A method for the oxidation of ethylene to form ethylene oxide which comprises: providing an aqueous stream containing ethylene glycol and impurities; introducing the aqueous stream in a first ion exchange treatment bed to reduce the content of these impurities; determining whether an outlet of the first ion exchange treatment bed has a conductivity greater than about 5 S/cm; upon determining that the outlet of the first ion exchange treatment bed has a conductivity greater than about 5 S/cm, introducing the outlet of the first ion exchange treatment bed into a second ion exchange treatment bed; and upon determining that the outlet of the first ion exchange treatment bed has a conductivity greater than about 60 S/cm, redirecting the introduction of the aqueous stream to the second ion exchange treatment bed and regenerating the first ion exchange bed.

The present invention discloses a method for removing carbon dioxide from a reaction gas. The present invention fully utilizes the available heat in each part of the carbon dioxide removal system to reduce external heat exchange, and thereby significantly reduces the carbon dioxide content in the gas returned to the reactor, and also greatly reduces the steam consumption during the regeneration of the rich decarburizing solution. The present invention also discloses a system for removing carbon dioxide from the reaction gas and use thereof.

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 an alkyl 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 an alkyl iodide impurity, are provided. Processes for producing ethylene oxide, ethylene carbonate and/or ethylene glycol, and associated reaction systems are similarly provided.

A porous body with enhanced fluid transport properties and crush strength is provided. The porous body includes the porous body includes at least 80 percent alpha alumina and having a pore volume from 0.3 mL/g to 1.2 mL/g, a surface area from 0.3 m.sup.2/g to 3.0 m.sup.2/g, and a pore architecture that provides at least one of a tortuosity of 7 or less, a constriction of 4 or less and a permeability of 30 mdarcys or greater, wherein the porous body is a cylinder comprising at least two spaced apart holes that extend through an entire length of the cylinder. The porous body has a flat plate crush strength improved by more than 10% over a porous body cylinder having a same outer diameter and length, but having only a single hole.

A porous body with enhanced fluid transport properties and crush strength is provided. The porous body includes the porous body includes at least 80 percent alpha alumina and having a pore volume from 0.3 mL/g to 1.2 mL/g, a surface area from 0.3 m.sup.2/g to 3.0 m.sup.2/g, and a pore architecture that provides at least one of a tortuosity of 7 or less, a constriction of 4 or less and a permeability of 30 mdarcys or greater, wherein the porous body is a cylinder comprising at least two spaced apart holes that extend through an entire length of the cylinder. The porous body has a flat plate crush strength improved by more than 10% over a porous body cylinder having a same outer diameter and length, but having only a single hole.

Epoxidation methods and catalyst are described herein. The epoxidation catalysts generally include a metal component including silver and a support material including kaolinite, wherein the epoxidation catalyst includes less than 55 wt. % metal component.

Epoxidation methods and catalyst are described herein. The epoxidation catalysts generally include a metal component including silver and a support material including kaolinite, wherein the epoxidation catalyst includes less than 55 wt. % metal component.

A method for maximizing the selectivity (S) of an epoxidation catalyst in an ethylene oxide reactor system, comprising: receiving a measured reactor selectivity (S.sub.meas), a measured reactor temperature (T.sub.meas), and one or more operational parameters from an ethylene oxide production system, the measured reactor selectivity (S.sub.meas), the measured reactor temperature (T.sub.meas), and the one or more operational parameters comprise real-time and historical operating data points over time generated by the ethylene oxide production system, and using a processor to conduct various calculations and determination in order to output an actionable recommendation that includes a target change (M.sub.change) of a moderator level (M) of a chloride-containing catalyst moderator to its optimal value (M.sub.opt). The method further includes using the processor to (f) display the actionable recommendation on a display.