PROCESS FOR PRODUCTION OF SILICA-SUPPORTED ALKALI METAL CATALYST Russian patent published in 2018 - IPC B01J38/64 B01J23/04 B01J21/08 C07C51/347 C07C51/353 

FIELD: chemistry.

SUBSTANCE: process for regenerating a depleted silica-supported alkali metal catalyst is described. Content of alkali metal on the depleted catalyst is at least 0.5 mol% and the silica support is a xerogel. Process comprises steps of contacting the depleted silica-supported alkali metal catalyst with a solution of a salt of the alkali metal in a solvent system that has a polar organic solvent as the main component. Also described is a re-impregnated catalyst prepared by the process of the invention, comprising a silica xerogel support, and a catalyst metal selected from an alkali metal in the range of 0.5 to 5 mol% of metal on the catalyst, in which the surface area of the silica support is <180 m²/g. Present invention is applicable to a process for the preparation of an ethylenically unsaturated acid or ester, comprising contacting a carboxylic acid or ester of the formula R¹-CH₂-COOR³ with formaldehyde or with a suitable source of formaldehyde.

EFFECT: technical result is the restoration of catalytic activity to the initial level without the use of surface treatment and mechanical damage to the catalyst support.

25 cl, 1 dwg, 3 tbl, 11 ex