Abstract
Acetylene was the primary feedstock of the chemical industry in the first half of the last century due to its high reactivity that resulted in rich chemistry with many applications, including the production of acetaldehyde, vinyl chloride, and acrylonitrile. Later, it was phased out by ethylene and propylene, which are mainly byproducts of oil refining. In today’s world, climate objectives are set on making oil-derived fossil fuels obsolete in the long run. Alternative routes to key petrochemical feedstocks such as olefins can ensure that demand for petrochemicals is being met while fossil fuel production is being ramped down. Herein, we present a novel concept for producing light olefins based on acetylene. Using copper-exchanged Y-zeolite, butene productivities in an industrially relevant range could be achieved and sustained for over 10 h under appropriate conditions. The acetylene conversion reaches above 50%, while the selectivity toward butenes is over 60%. Overall, our results present acetylene as an attractive raw material for the production of light olefins, enabling the diversification of the synthesis of critical C4 bulk chemicals.
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