Ceramic article, carrier for catalyst, methods for production thereof, catalyst for producing ethylene oxide using the carrier, and method for producing ethylene oxide

A ceramic article is disclosed which contains aluminum, silicon, and titanium in a total amount of at least 99% by weight as reduced to the oxides (Al₂O₃+SiO₂+TiO₂) and assumes an acidic color in methyl red, an indicator of at least pKa+4.8. It can be used as a carried for a catalyst. This ceramic article is obtained by mixing an aluminum compound, a silicon compound, and a titanium compound and calcining the resultant mixture at a temperature in the range of 1,000-2,000 C. A catalyst for preparing ethylene oxide is obtained by depositing silver and a reaction promoter on the ceramic carrier and ethylene oxide is obtained by oxidizing ethylene with a molecular oxygen-containing gas in the presence of the catalyst in vapor phase.