Unconventional and Sustainable Production Routes to Olefins

The focus of recent R&D and commercial developments for novel processes and catalysts for olefins production goes well beyond traditional thermal steam cracking, fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) and propane dehydrogenation (PDH) routes, to include numerous unconventional, green, and circular approaches. These routes include, but are not limited to, utilization of biomass or waste plastic, renewably produced methane and syngas, direct CO₂ conversion, and the electrification of reactors. All these approaches must address certain critical factors affecting technology viability, notably the CO₂ footprint, lifecycle analysis, and overall sustainability in a move towards NetZero2050, and of course favorable economic conditions.

This presentation first establishes the state-of-the-art of the conventional olefins landscape, discussing any notable improvements in steam cracking and the growing utilization of on-purpose propylene technologies. The core of the presentation discusses the improvements and discoveries made to unconventional catalytic olefins production methods including direct methane/C₁ conversion, biomass and recycled waste, electrification, and CO₂ utilization, as well as concepts related to GHG/CO₂ reduction and increased sustainability and circular economy efforts in the petrochemical and polymer industries.