Patent ID: 8487123

Claim:
A method for the start-up of a process for the epoxidation of ethylene comprising: initiating an epoxidation reaction by reacting a feed gas composition containing ethylene, and oxygen, in the presence of an epoxidation catalyst at a first temperature of about 180° C. to about 210° C.; increasing the first temperature to a second temperature of about 230° C. to about 290° C., over a time period of about 6 hours to about 50 hours, while simultaneously adding a sufficient concentration of moderator so that the amount of moderator adsorbed on the catalyst after achieving the second temperature is from about 10 to about 50 g/m 3 of catalyst; maintaining the second temperature for a time period of about 50 hours to about 350 hours, while regulating the feed gas composition to contain about 0.5% to about 25% CO 2 ; and decreasing the second temperature to a third temperature, while simultaneously increasing moderator concentration to a level greater than the sufficient concentration.