Epoxidation catalyst

• US 7,057,056 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lyondell Chemical Technology LP (Lyondellbasell Industries NV)
• Original Assignee: Lyondell Chemical Technology LP (Lyondellbasell Industries NV)
• Inventors: Qin, Kun, Whitman, Peter J., Grey, Roger A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Amelia A.
• Application Number:
  US11/016,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20060135795A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• Field of Search: 549/529, 549/531
• US Class Current: 549/529
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2229/20 to introduce other elements in the catalyst composition comprising the molecular sieve, but not specially in or on the molecular sieve itself
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 2229/37 Acid treatment
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 29/04 having base-exchange properties, e.g. crystalline zeolites B01J29/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 29/89 Silicates, aluminosilicates or borosilicates of titanium, zirconium or hafnium B01J29/005 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/0045 Drying a slurry, e.g. spray drying
• CPC Class Codes: B01J 37/0203 the impregnation liquid containing organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 301/12 with hydrogen peroxide or inorganic peroxides or peracids
• CPC Class Codes: C07D 303/04 containing only hydrogen and carbon atoms in addition to the ring oxygen atoms

Abstract

Titanium or vanadium zeolites are pretreated by contacting with an amino polyacid compound, such as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or a salt thereof, prior to use in olefin epoxidation with hydrogen peroxide.

Claims

1. An epoxidation process which comprises reacting an olefin with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a titanium or vanadium zeolite, wherein the zeolite is pre-treated by contacting with an amino polyacid compound.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the zeolite is a titanium silicalite.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the zeolite is TS-1.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the olefin is a C₂–

C₆ olefin.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the amino polyacid compound is selected from the group consisting of amino polycarboxylic acids, amino polyphosphonic acids, amino polysulfonic acids, and mixtures thereof.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the amino polyacid is selected from the group consisting of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenediaminetriacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, iminodiacetic acid, and mixtures thereof.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein reaction of olefin and hydrogen peroxide is performed in a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, C₁–

C₄ alcohols, supercritical CO₂, and mixtures thereof.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein the hydrogen peroxide is formed by the in situ reaction of hydrogen and oxygen in the presence of a noble metal catalyst.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the noble metal catalyst comprises a noble metal and a support.

10. The process of claim 9 wherein the noble metal is selected from the group consisting of palladium, platinum, and gold.

11. The process of claim 9 wherein the support is selected from the group consisting of carbon, titania, zirconia, ceria, niobium oxides, silica, alumina, silica-alumina, tantalum oxides, molybdenum oxides, tungsten oxides, titania-silica, zirconia-silica, ceria-silica, niobia-silica, polystyrene, styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers, crosslinked polyethyleneimines, polybenzimidazole, and mixtures thereof.

12. An epoxidation process which comprises reacting an olefin, hydrogen and oxygen in the presence of a noble metal-containing titanium or vanadium zeolite catalyst comprising a noble metal and a titanium or vanadium zeolite, wherein the zeolite is pre-treated by contacting with an amino polyacid compound.

13. The process of claim 12 wherein the olefin is a C₂–

C₆ olefin.

14. The process of claim 12 wherein the amino polyacid compound is selected from the group consisting of amino polycarboxylic acids, amino polyphosphonic acids, amino polysulfonic acids, and mixtures thereof.

15. The process of claim 12 wherein the amino polyacid is selected from the group consisting of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenediaminetriacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, iminodiacetic acid, and mixtures thereof.

16. The process of claim 12 wherein reaction of olefin, hydrogen and oxygen is performed in a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, C₁–

C₄ alcohols, supercritical CO₂, and mixtures thereof.

17. A process comprising contacting a titanium or vanadium zeolite with an amino polyacid compound selected from the group consisting of amino polycarboxylic acids, amino polyphosphonic acids, amino polysulfonic acids, and mixtures thereof.

18. The process of claim 17 further comprising heating the contacted titanium or vanadium zeolite at a temperature greater than 350°

C.

19. The process of claim 17 further comprising washing the contacted titanium or vanadium zeolite.

20. The process of claim 17 wherein the amino polyacid is selected from the group consisting of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ethylenediaminetriacetic acid, nitrilotriacetic acid, iminodiacetic acid, and mixtures thereof.