Toward Platform Chemicals from Bio-Based Ethylene: Heterogeneous Catalysts and Processes

Abstract

With stricter ecological regulation and reduction of fossil feedstock, the research works have been oriented to renewable resources. Various bio-based molecules have been proposed for replacing the platform chemicals based on crude oil, but there are not yet well-established processes for producing these chemicals at large scale. As a result, in the short to midterm, a main impact will be expected from the production of bio-based bulk chemicals having identical structures as today’s bulk chemicals, including ethylene, which is a key intermediate for the production of platform molecules. The commercial method for producing ethylene is based on steam thermal cracking, but emerging methods using alternative sources (natural gas, coal, biomass) are very promising processes. For example, the high-volume production of ethylene by ethanol dehydration has become an economically feasible application. This perspective summarizes the advances in catalysts, processes, and fundamental understanding of reaction mechanisms in ethylene conversion to other high-value hydrocarbons, including propylene, butenes, and BTX aromatics.

Molecular enhancement of heterogeneous CO2 reduction

“…4c). For example, the catalytic dimerization or oligomerization of C 2 H 4 could result in a C 4 , C 6 or a statistical distribution of C 2n olefins, depending on the type of catalyst employed 70 (Fig. 4d).…”

Polymers Based on Cyclic Carbonates as Trait d'Union Between Polymer Chemistry and Sustainable CO2 Utilization

“…20 %) of ethylene combustion. [47] The bio-based olefins could be used for the preparation of EC and PC as discussed earlier with the overall sustainability of the process depending on the optimization of each synthetic step. [43] Thel atter compound is currently produced by an onsustainable approach but its electrochemical production is expected to develop into as ustainable process in the mediumt erm.…”

“…[46] Bio-based propylene could be obtained from bio-ethylene by dimerization to butene and metathesis (Scheme2,r oute e). [47] The bio-based olefins could be used for the preparation of EC and PC as discussed earlier with the overall sustainability of the process depending on the optimization of each synthetic step. To note, EC can react with methanol to afford DMC (Scheme 2, route f), which is ab enign and nontoxic carbonylation reagent.…”

An improved catalytic pyrolysis concept for renewable aromatics from biomass involving a recycling strategy for co-produced polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

“…7,8 A number of routes have been developed for the catalytic conversion of sugar-derived furanics into aromatics via Diels Alder (DA) addition and subsequent dehydration reactions (i.e., a stoichiometric synthesis approach). [9][10][11][12] Catalytic conversions of bio-based (isobutyl) alcohols, 13,14 ethylene, 15,16 and pinacol-acrolein 17 to aromatics have also been reported. Catalytic pyrolysis, a one-step process with high flexibility in biomass input, offers another promising pathway to aromatics.…”