Editing Epoxide (section)

===Ethylene oxidation===
The [[ethylene oxide]] industry generates its product from reaction of [[ethylene]] and [[oxygen]]. Modified [[heterogeneous catalysis|heterogeneous]] [[silver]] catalysts are typically employed.<ref>{{cite journal|journal = Catalysis Reviews|title = Structure Sensitivity of the Catalytic Oxidation of Ethene by Silver|last1=Sajkowski|first1= D. J.|last2 = Boudart|first2 = M.|date = 1987|volume =29|issue = 4|pages = 325–360|doi = 10.1080/01614948708078611}}</ref> According to a reaction mechanism suggested in 1974<ref name="kilty">{{cite journal
| author = Kilty P. A.|author2= Sachtler W. M. H.
| title = The mechanism of the selective oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide
| doi=10.1080/01614947408079624
| journal = Catalysis Reviews
| year = 1974
| volume = 10
| pages = 1–16
}}</ref> at least one ethylene molecule is totally oxidized for every six that are converted to ethylene oxide: <chem display=block>7 H2C=CH2  +  6 O2  ->  6 C2H4O  +  2 CO2  +  2 H2O</chem>  

Only ethylene produces an epoxide during [[incomplete combustion]]. Other alkenes fail to react usefully, even [[propylene]], though TS-1 supported [[Gold|Au]] catalysts can selectively epoxidize propylene.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Production of Propene Oxide: Catalytic Processes and Recent Developments|first1=T. Alexander|last1=Nijhuis|first2=Michiel|last2=Makkee|first3=Jacob A.|last3=Moulijn|first4=Bert M. |last4 = Weckhuysen |date=1 May 2006|journal=Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research |volume=45 |issue=10 |pages=3447–3459|doi=10.1021/ie0513090|hdl = 1874/20149|s2cid=94240406 |hdl-access=free}}</ref>