METHODS FOR ENHANCING THE EFFICIENCY OF RHENIUM-PROMOTED EPOXIDATION CATALYSTS AND EPOXIDATION METHODS UTILIZING THESE
First Claim
1. A method for enhancing the efficiency of a rhenium-promoted epoxidation catalyst in situ comprising contacting the catalyst with a feed comprising a gas phase epoxidation reaction promoter at an elevated temperature of at least about 240°
- C. for at least about 2 hours and then reducing the temperature to a reduced temperature of less than or equal to about 230°
C.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for enhancing the efficiency of a rhenium-promoted epoxidation catalyst is provided. Advantageously, the method may be carried out in situ, i.e., within the epoxidation process, and in fact, may be carried out during production of the desired epoxide. As such, a method for the epoxidation of alkylenes incorporating the efficiency-enhancing method is also provided, as is a method for using the alkylene oxides so produced for the production of 1,2-diols, 1,2-carbonates, 1,2-diol ethers, or alkanolamines.
10 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for enhancing the efficiency of a rhenium-promoted epoxidation catalyst in situ comprising contacting the catalyst with a feed comprising a gas phase epoxidation reaction promoter at an elevated temperature of at least about 240°
- C. for at least about 2 hours and then reducing the temperature to a reduced temperature of less than or equal to about 230°
C. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- C. for at least about 2 hours and then reducing the temperature to a reduced temperature of less than or equal to about 230°
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13. A method for the epoxidation of one or more alkylenes comprising contacting a rhenium-promoted epoxidation catalyst with a feed comprising a gas phase epoxidation reaction promoter, oxygen and one or more alkylenes at an elevated temperature of at least about 240°
- C. for at least about 2 hours, and subsequently reducing the temperature to a reduced temperature of less than or equal to about 230°
C. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
- C. for at least about 2 hours, and subsequently reducing the temperature to a reduced temperature of less than or equal to about 230°
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19. A method for making a 1,2-diol, a 1,2-diol ether, a 1,2-carbonate, or an alkanolamine comprising converting an alkylene oxide into the 1,2-diol, a 1,2-diol ether, a 1,2-carbonate, or alkanolamine, wherein the alkylene oxide has been prepared by a method for the epoxidation of alkylenes comprising contacting a rhenium-promoted epoxidation catalyst with a feed comprising a gas phase epoxidation reaction promoter, oxygen and one or more alkylenes at an elevated temperature of at least about 240°
- C. for at least about 2 hours, and subsequently reducing the temperature to a reduced temperature of less than or equal to about 230°
C.
- C. for at least about 2 hours, and subsequently reducing the temperature to a reduced temperature of less than or equal to about 230°
Specification