Process for producing olefin oxide

Abstract

A process for producing an olefin oxide which comprises reacting an olefin with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a copper oxide and a ruthenium oxide on a porous support.

1 . A process for producing an olefin oxide which comprises reacting an olefin with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst comprising a copper oxide and a ruthenium oxide on a porous support. 
     
     
         2 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous support comprises Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , TiO 2  or ZrO 2 . 
     
     
         3 . The process according to  claim 1 , wherein the porous support comprises SiO 2 . 
     
     
         4 . The process according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the total amount of the copper oxide and the ruthenium oxide in the catalyst is 0.01 to 80% by weight of the amount of the catalyst. 
     
     
         5 . The process according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the copper/ruthenium metal weight ratio in the catalyst is 1/99 to 99/1. 
     
     
         6 . The process according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the copper oxide is CuO. 
     
     
         7 . The process according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the ruthenium oxide is RuO 2 . 
     
     
         8 . The process according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the olefin is propylene and the olefin oxide is propylene oxide. 
     
     
         9 . The process according to  claim 1  or  2 , wherein the catalyst is obtained by impregnating a porous support with a solution containing copper and ruthenium ions to prepare a composition, followed by calcining the composition. 
     
     
         10 . The process according to  claim 1  or  2 , which comprises reacting an olefin with oxygen at a temperature of 100 to 350° C. 
     
     
         11 . A catalyst for producing an olefin oxide which comprises a copper oxide and a ruthenium oxide on a porous support. 
     
     
         12 . The catalyst according to  claim 11  which is obtained by impregnating a porous support with a solution containing copper and ruthenium ions to prepare a composition, followed by calcining the composition. 
     
     
         13 . The catalyst according to  claim 11  or  12 , wherein the porous support comprises Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , TiO 2  or ZrO 2 . 
     
     
         14 . The catalyst according to  claim 11  or  12 , wherein the porous support comprises SiO 2 . 
     
     
         15 . The catalyst according to  claim 11  or  12 , wherein the olefin oxide is propylene oxide. 
     
     
         16 . Use of a catalyst for producing an olefin oxide, said catalyst comprising a copper oxide and a ruthenium oxide on a porous support. 
     
     
         17 . The use of a catalyst according to  claim 16 , wherein the olefin oxide is propylene oxide.