PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF A 1,2-DIOL, A 1,2-DIOL ETHER, OR AN ALKANOLAMINE

A catalyst which comprises a carrier and silver deposited on the carrier, which carrier has a surface area of at least 1.3 m2/g, a median pore diameter of more than 0.8 μm, and a pore size distribution wherein at least 80% of the total pore volume is contained in pores with diameters in the range of from 0.1 to 10 μm and at least 80% of the pore volume contained in the pores with diameters in the range of from 0.1 to 10 μm is contained in pores with diameters in the range of from 0.3 to 10 μm; process for the preparation of a catalyst which process comprises depositing silver on a carrier, wherein the carrier has been obtained by a method which comprises forming a mixture comprising: a) from 50 to 95 weight percent of a first particulate a-alumina having a median particle size (d50) of from 5 to 100 μm; b) from 5 to 50 weight percent of a second particulate a-alumina having a d50 which is less than the d50 of the first particulate a-alumina and which is in the range of from 1 to 10 μm; and c) an alkaline earth metal silicate bond material; weight percent being based on the total weight of a-alumina in the mixture; and firing the mixture to form the carrier; a process for the epoxidation of an olefin, which process comprises reacting a feed comprising an olefin and oxygen in the presence of a said catalyst; and a process for preparing a 1,2-diol, a 1,2-diol ether or an alkanolamine.