Abstract: A process of manufacturing ethylene oxide is presented in ethylene and free oxygen are reacted in the presence of methane, carbon dioxide, and argon in a reactor to form an effluent comprising ethylene oxide; the effluent is then withdrawn and ethylene oxide is removed from the effluent to obtain a recycle stream; carbon dioxide and argon are removed from the recycle stream to obtain a treated recycle stream which is supplied to the reactor along with additional reactants and methane, wherein removing argon comprises separating a side stream from the recycle stream, passing the side stream to the feed inlet of a membrane unit, removing an argon-containing stream from the permeate outlet of the membrane unit, removing a retentate stream from the retentate outlet of the membrane unit, adding the retentate stream to the recycle stream, and purging the permeate side of the membrane unit with inert gas.