EFFECT OF ALKALI METAL ADDITIVES ON THE ACTIVITY AND SELECTIVITY OF STRUCTURED SILVER CATALYSTS IN EPOXIDATION OF ETHYLENE BY NITROGEN(I) OXIDE

We have shown that introducing Cs, K, or Na additives into the composition of silver catalysts (supported on ceramic honeycomb monoliths) for epoxidation of ethylene by nitrogen(I) oxide leads to an increase in the yield of the target product (ethylene oxide) by a factor of 1.5-2, while the presence of lithium in the composition of the composites inhibits the process. The optimal content of alkali promoters in the composition of the catalysts decreases in the series Na, K, Cs antibatically relative to the ionic radii of the elements.