| abstract |
A process for the vapor phase oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide, which process involves reacting a reaction mixture having ethylene and oxygen in the presence of a supported highly selective silver-based catalyst by: operating at an initial operation phase wherein fresh catalyst is used, and operating at a further operation phase when a cumulative ethylene oxide production exceeds 0.01 kT ethylene oxide per m3 of catalyst, wherein in said further operation phase the concentration of ethylene in the reaction mixture is increased; anda method of using ethylene oxide into the 1.2-ethanediol or the 1,2-ethanediol ether wherein the ethylene oxide has been obtained by the process for the production of ethylene oxide. |