Overview of Selective Oxidation of Ethylene to Ethylene Oxide by Ag Catalysts

Ethylene oxidation by Ag catalysts has been extensively investigated over the past few decades, but many key fundamental issues about this important catalytic system are still unresolved. This overview of the selective oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide by Ag catalysts critically examines the experimental and theoretical literature of this complex catalytic system: (i) the surface chemistry of silver catalysts (single crystal, powder/foil, and supported Ag/α-Al2O3), (ii) the role of promoters, (iii) the reaction kinetics, (iv) the reaction mechanism, (v) density functional theory (DFT), and (vi) microkinetic modeling. Only in the past few years have the modern catalysis research tools of in situ/operando spectroscopy and DFT calculations been applied to begin establishing fundamental structure–activity/selectivity relationships. This overview of the ethylene oxidation reaction by Ag catalysts covers what is known and what issues still need to be determined to advance the rational design of this important catalytic system.