The present invention relates to a method for oxidizing beta-caryophyllene with oxygen, in particular atmospheric oxygen, which avoids the use of catalysts, enzymes and solvents. Furthermore, the present invention provides a mixture comprising certain caryophyllene oxides as well as their use as a flavor and/or fragrance. The present invention also relates to products and semi-finished products comprising the mixture according to the invention.

A shaped catalyst body for producing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene, comprising silver deposited on a porous refractory support, the shaped catalyst body having a first face side surface, a second face side surface and a circumferential surface, characterized by a content of at least 20 wt.-% of silver, relative to the total weight of the shaped catalyst body; a multilobe structure; a plurality of passageways extending from the first face side surface to the second face side surface, outer passageways being arranged around a central passageway with one outer passageway being assigned to each lobe, wherein neighboring outer passageways are arranged essentially equidistantly to each other and the outer passageways are arranged essentially equidistantly to the central passageway; a minimum wall thickness A between two neighboring passageways in the range of 0.6 to 1.3 mm; a minimum wall thickness B between each outer passageway and the circumferential surface in the range of 1.1 to 1.8 mm; and a BET surface area in the range of 1.6 to 3.0 m.sup.2/g. The shaped catalyst bodies allow for a favorable balance between mechanical stability, pressure drop and selectivity. The invention also relates to a process for producing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene, comprising reacting ethylene and oxygen in the presence of a shaped catalyst body as defined above. The invention further relates to a process for preparing a shaped catalyst body as above, comprising i) impregnating a refractory support having a BET surface area in the range of 1.4 to 2.5 m.sup.2/g with a silver impregnation solution; and ii) subjecting the impregnated refractory support to a calcination process; wherein steps i) and ii) are optionally repeated.

A shaped catalyst body for producing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene, comprising silver deposited on a porous refractory support, the shaped catalyst body having a first face side surface, a second face side surface and a circumferential surface, characterized by a content of at least 20 wt.-% of silver, relative to the total weight of the shaped catalyst body; a multilobe structure; a plurality of passageways extending from the first face side surface to the second face side surface, outer passageways being arranged around a central passageway with one outer passageway being assigned to each lobe, wherein neighboring outer passageways are arranged essentially equidistantly to each other and the outer passageways are arranged essentially equidistantly to the central passageway; a minimum wall thickness A between two neighboring passageways in the range of 0.6 to 1.3 mm; a minimum wall thickness B between each outer passageway and the circumferential surface in the range of 1.1 to 1.8 mm; and a BET surface area in the range of 1.6 to 3.0 m.sup.2/g. The shaped catalyst bodies allow for a favorable balance between mechanical stability, pressure drop and selectivity. The invention also relates to a process for producing ethylene oxide by gas-phase oxidation of ethylene, comprising reacting ethylene and oxygen in the presence of a shaped catalyst body as defined above. The invention further relates to a process for preparing a shaped catalyst body as above, comprising i) impregnating a refractory support having a BET surface area in the range of 1.4 to 2.5 m.sup.2/g with a silver impregnation solution; and ii) subjecting the impregnated refractory support to a calcination process; wherein steps i) and ii) are optionally repeated.

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for producing epoxide gasoline blending components includes cracking, in a steam cracker, a hydrocarbon feed to form a first ethylene stream, a first propylene stream, and a C.sub.4 stream comprising isobutene and butadiene; reacting, in a methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) unit, the C.sub.4 stream with a methanol stream to form MTBE and a butadiene-rich C.sub.4 stream; selectively hydrogenating, in a butadiene unit, the butadiene-rich C.sub.4 stream to form a butene-rich C.sub.4 stream including butene-1, cis-butene-2, and trans-butene-2; producing, in an isononanol unit, isononanol and an olefin-rich stream from the butene-rich C.sub.4 stream; and oxidizing the olefin-rich stream in an oxidation unit by combining the olefin-rich stream with an oxidant stream and a catalyst composition to produce the epoxide gasoline blending components.

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for producing epoxide gasoline blending components includes cracking, in a steam cracker, a hydrocarbon feed to form a first ethylene stream, a first propylene stream, and a C.sub.4 stream comprising isobutene and butadiene; reacting, in a methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) unit, the C.sub.4 stream with a methanol stream to form MTBE and a butadiene-rich C.sub.4 stream; selectively hydrogenating, in a butadiene unit, the butadiene-rich C.sub.4 stream to form a butene-rich C.sub.4 stream including butene-1, cis-butene-2, and trans-butene-2; producing, in an isononanol unit, isononanol and an olefin-rich stream from the butene-rich C.sub.4 stream; and oxidizing the olefin-rich stream in an oxidation unit by combining the olefin-rich stream with an oxidant stream and a catalyst composition to produce the epoxide gasoline blending components.

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for producing epoxide gasoline blending components includes cracking, in a steam cracker, a hydrocarbon feed to form a first ethylene stream, a first propylene stream, and a C.sub.4 stream comprising isobutene and butadiene; reacting, in a methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) unit, the C.sub.4 stream with a methanol stream to form MTBE and a butadiene-rich C.sub.4 stream; selectively hydrogenating, in a butadiene unit, the butadiene-rich C.sub.4 stream to form a butene-rich C.sub.4 stream including butene-1, cis-butene-2, and trans-butene-2; producing, in an isononanol unit, isononanol and an olefin-rich stream from the butene-rich C.sub.4 stream; and oxidizing the olefin-rich stream in an oxidation unit by combining the olefin-rich stream with an oxidant stream and a catalyst composition to produce the epoxide gasoline blending components.

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for producing alcohol gasoline blending components includes cracking, in a steam cracker, a hydrocarbon feed to form a first ethylene stream, a first propylene stream, and a C.sub.4 stream comprising isobutene and butadiene; reacting, in a methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) unit, the C.sub.4 stream with a methanol stream to form MTBE and a butadiene-rich C.sub.4 stream; selectively hydrogenating, in a butadiene unit, the butadiene-rich C.sub.4 stream to form a butene-rich C.sub.4 stream including butene-1, cis-butene-2, and trans-butene-2; producing, in an isononanol unit, isononanol and an olefin-rich stream from the butene-rich C.sub.4 stream; and hydrating the olefin-rich stream in a hydration unit by combining the olefin-rich stream with a water stream and a catalyst composition to produce the alcohol gasoline blending components.

In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for producing epoxide gasoline blending components includes cracking, in a steam cracker, a hydrocarbon feed to form a first ethylene stream, a first propylene stream, and a C.sub.4 stream comprising isobutene and butadiene; reacting, in a methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) unit, the C.sub.4 stream with a methanol stream to form MTBE and a butadiene-rich C.sub.4 stream; selectively hydrogenating, in a butadiene unit, the butadiene-rich C.sub.4 stream to form a butene-rich C.sub.4 stream including butene-1, cis-butene-2, and trans-butene-2; producing, in an isononanol unit, isononanol and an olefin-rich stream from the butene-rich C.sub.4 stream; and hydrogenating the olefin-rich stream by combining the olefin-rich stream with a hydrogen stream and a catalyst composition to produce the paraffins.

A carrier having at least three lobes, a first end, a second end, a wall between the ends and a non-uniform radius of transition at the intersection of an end and the wall is disclosed. A catalyst comprising the carrier, silver and promoters deposited on the carrier and useful for the epoxidation of olefins is also disclosed. A method for making the carrier, a method for making the catalyst and a process for epoxidation of an olefin with the catalyst are also disclosed.

A carrier having at least three lobes, a first end, a second end, a wall between the ends and a non-uniform radius of transition at the intersection of an end and the wall is disclosed. A catalyst comprising the carrier, silver and promoters deposited on the carrier and useful for the epoxidation of olefins is also disclosed. A method for making the carrier, a method for making the catalyst and a process for epoxidation of an olefin with the catalyst are also disclosed.