| abstract |
The present process allows the production of a catalyst for preparing vinyl acetate in the gas phase from ethylene, acetic acid and oxygen or oxygen-containing gases. The catalyst comprises palladium and/or its compounds, gold and/or its compounds and also alkali metal compounds on a particulate, porous support, and is produced by (a) impregnating the support with soluble palladium and gold compounds, (b) converting the soluble palladium and gold compounds into insoluble palladium and gold compounds by addition of an alkaline solution to the support, (c) reducing the insoluble palladium and gold compounds on the support by means of a reducing agent in the liquid or gaseous phase, (d) impregnating the support with at least one soluble alkali metal compound and (e) finally drying the support at a maximum of 150 DEG C, wherein the catalyst is irradiated with microwaves before, during or after one of the process steps (a) to (e). |