Description:
Reference #: 01508
The University of South Carolina is offering licensing opportunities for Electrochemical Dehydrogenation of Ethane to Ethylene using Solid Oxide Electrolyzer
Background:
Ethylene is typically produced from natural gas liquid where ethane is the main component. The current industrial method to produce ethylene from ethane is through ethane steam cracking process which is energy intensive and emits significant amount of CO2. Thermal catalysis of ethane to ethylene has the limitations of low yield and catalyst deactivation.
Invention Description:
This invention uses an electrochemical process to convert ethane to ethylene with high yield and utilizes CO2 to make CO concurrently. This innovation will solve the low conversion, low selectivity, and catalyst coking challenges for conversion ethane to ethylene in petrochemical industry.
Potential Applications:
The anticipated market size will be substantial if this process can be reduced to practice since this process can improve at least 20% increase in ethylene yield. Ethylene is an important feedstock for synthesis of plastics/resins, a market projected to rise 50% by 2030.
Advantages and Benefits:
This innovation can improve the yield of ethane to ethylene conversion. Ethylene is a basic building block for the chemicals industry and is produced >140 million tons annually, mainly through steam cracking from ethane.