Advancements in Environmentally Sustainable Technologies for Ethylene Production

Rapid advancements in renewable energy and the staggeringenvironmentalimpact of ethylene production have made the quest for "greenethylene" urgent. This Review explores traditional and emergingmethods for ethylene production, focusing on the transition from conventionalto electrified processes. The global importance of ethylene industry,valued at $230 billion, cannot be overlooked. However, its significantcontribution of 150 million t of annual CO2 emissions necessitates adopting carbon-negative and sustainable approaches.The declining cost of renewable energy has sparked interest in electrifiedprocesses, including electric crackers and electrochemical reactorsfor ethylene production. This Review provides a balanced overviewof the performance attributes of conventional reactors, such as conversion,selectivity, and operating temperatures, and the crucial featuresof electrochemical reactors, including Faradaic efficiency and currentdensity. Operating electrochemical reactors poses their own challenges,such as corrosion and lower energy efficiencies, which are discussedin detail. The Review also examines the economic aspects of "greenethylene" production, identifying challenges and opportunities.A comprehensive roadmap is presented to meet the global productionscale of green ethylene. This roadmap outlines the steps needed totransition from conventional to electrified processes, ensuring asustainable and environmentally friendly future for ethylene production.In summary, we emphasize the urgent need for carbon-negative ethyleneproduction and provide transition pathways from conventional to electrochemicalprocesses. The Review also provides insights into the performanceattributes of different reactors, discusses their challenges, andpresents an economic analysis.