Converting olefins to propene: Ethene to propene and olefin cracking

TLDR

Propene demand is rising while its supply has declined due to shale gas adoption, prompting efforts to improve production through conventional and novel technologies such as ethene‑to‑propene and olefin cracking. This review examines progress in olefin conversion, focusing on ethene‑to‑propene and cracking of butenes and higher olefins (C5–C8). The review analyzes catalytic performance of various zeolite materials and their modifications, operating conditions, thermodynamics, and reaction mechanisms, and surveys commercial technologies in olefin conversion.

Abstract

Demand for propene as a petrochemical building block keeps growing, while its availability has been decreased by the adoption of shale gas resources, among others. Efforts to optimize its production by conventional means (including modified fluid catalytic cracking) and new on-purpose production technologies (including ethene to propene (ETP) and olefin cracking) are being pursued. This work reviews the progress made on olefin conversion processes, including the ETP reaction, which is still under development, and the cracking of butenes and higher olefins (C5–C8). The factors analyzed include the catalytic performance of different zeolite materials and their modifications to increase catalyst stability, yield, and selectivity to propene, as well as the effect of operating conditions, reaction thermodynamics, and mechanisms involved. The work is complemented by a survey of commercial technologies and developments on olefin conversion processes.