BigPatents India

The present invention relates to a process and catalyst for the hydro- oxidation of an olefin having three or more carbon atoms, such as propylene, to form an olefins oxide, such as propylene oxide. The process involves contacting the olefin with oxygen under reaction conditions in the presence of hydrogen and a catalyst. The catalyst contains oxidized gold dispersed on a titanium-containing support, preferably, a support having a plurality of titanium coordination environments, for example, titanium grafted onto a titanosilicate. Selectively to olefin oxide is high at good conversion of the olefin. The catalyst uses hydrogen efficiently and exhibits a long lifetime.