#olefins

A quick stretch switches this polymer's capacity to transport heat

Most materials have an inherent capacity to handle heat. Plastic, for instance, is typically a poor thermal conductor, whereas materials like marble move heat more efficiently. If you were to place one hand on a marble countertop and the other on a plastic cutting board, the marble would conduct more heat away from your hand, creating a colder sensation compared to the plastic. Typically, a material's thermal conductivity cannot be changed without remanufacturing it. But MIT engineers have now found that a relatively common material can switch its thermal conductivity. Simply stretching the material quickly dials up its heat conductance, from a baseline similar to that of plastic to a higher capacity closer to that of marble. When the material springs back to its unstretched form, it returns to its plastic-like properties.

Iron core-shell catalyst boosts hydrogen economy of direct syngas to olefin conversion

Scientists have developed a new iron-based catalyst that improves the typically low hydrogen atom economy (HAE) in the direct synthesis of olefins—small hydrocarbon molecules. It converts the water produced as a by-product into hydrogen for olefin production, thereby boosting overall efficiency. Olefins derived from petroleum are the building blocks for many plastics and fuels. Direct conversion of syngas—a mixture of carbon monoxide (CO) and hydrogen (H2)—into olefins offers a promising alternative to reducing reliance on petroleum. It opens ways for using syngas derived from coal, biomass, or natural gas as a feedstock for olefin production. In this study published in Science, researchers presented a sodium-modified FeCx@Fe3O4 core-shell catalyst produced via coprecipitation and thermal treatment. The catalyst achieved over 75% olefin selectivity and a 33% by weight hydrocarbon yield. It also had an HAE of ~66–86%, which is significantly higher than the ~43–47% seen in the traditional syngas-to-olefin (STO) conversion methods.

Cu-Fe catalyst facilitates ambient-pressure conversion of CO2 into long-chain olefins

A research team led by Prof. Zeng Jie from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) developed a novel Cu-Fe catalyst that can realize the production of long-chain olefins by CO2 hydrogenation under low pressure.

The study was published in Nature Communications on May 3.

Long-chain olefins play an essential role in the production of common chemicals such as synthetic lubricants, high-octane gasoline, and corrosion inhibitors.

However, they are generally synthesized from petroleum resources, which is not environmentally friendly. Moreover, extant methods of CO2 hydrogenation for long-chain olefins production are mostly operated under high pressure.

In this study, the research team chose the CO-intermediate pathway, induced Cu sites with the capability of non-disassociation adsorption of CO, and synthesized the Cu-Fe catalyst with copper-iron carbide interfaces working under ambient pressure. The Cu-Fe catalyst, composed of Cu, iron oxides, and iron carbides, is termed activated CuFeO2.

Chemical engineers advance olefins production through computational modeling

Olefins are simple compounds of hydrogen and carbon but represent the building blocks of chemistry, and are vital for the synthesis of materials from polymers and plastics to petrochemicals. However, olefin production requires the use of nonrenewable fossil fuels, energy intensive "cracking" facilities, and limited production control.

New research from the University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering has introduced a method to effectively screen different catalysts that convert light alkanes to olefins. With light alkanes being abundant in the Marcellus and Utica shale reserves, this methodology may provide a more economical solution for olefins production.

Their research, "Structure-Activity Relationships in Alkane Dehydrogenation on γ-Al2O3: Site-Dependent Reactions" was recently featured on the cover of ACS Catalysis. Lead investigator is Giannis Mpourmpakis, the Bicentennial Alumni Faculty Fellow and Assistant Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the Swanson School, and co-authors Mudit Dixit, Ph.D. and Pavlo Kostetskyy, postdoctoral fellow at Northwestern University who earned his Ph.D. in Dr. Mpourmpakis' CANELa lab.

Cheap, energy-efficient and clean reaction to make chemical feedstock

Combining experimental and computer chemistry, scientists find the conditions to break carbon-hydrogen bonds at low temperature with cheap titanium in place of rare metals

They are all around you! Most plastics, conductive polymers, and even medicines derive from molecules with a double bond between two carbon atoms, C=C. These molecules are called olefins and are mainly produced from fossil fuels through an energy-intensive and polluting process known as steam cracking. It requires temperatures of 800°C and produces the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Needless to day, alternatives to this process which could bring environmental and economic benefits are highly sought after.

A team of researchers from the Center for Catalytic Hydrocarbon Functionalizations, within the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), in collaboration with Prof. Daniel J. Mindiola from the University of Pennsylvania, accomplished a reaction that was not possible before; they produced olefins with cheap readily available ingredients and at low temperature (75°C). This research outcome, published in Nature Chemistry, paves the way for an efficient use of natural gases to synthesize important chemical products.

Natural gases, such as methane and ethane, have strong carbon-hydrogen (C-H) bonds that are difficult to break. The research team managed to transform such unreactive molecules into olefins, the chemical feedstock of a myriad of products we use in our daily life.

🌐 Market Size & Growth The global Petrochemical Market is projected to grow from USD 501.75 billion in 2025 to USD 771.73 billion by 2033, expanding steadily at a CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast period.

🔬 By Type: • Olefins (Ethylene, Propylene) – backbone of plastics, packaging, and synthetic materials. • Aromatics (Benzene, Toluene) – key feedstocks for chemicals, solvents, and polymers. • Methanol & Vinyls – critical for resins, adhesives, and industrial applications. • Value Chain: Upstream, Midstream, Downstream segments drive integrated operations.

🚗 By Application: • Automotive – lightweight plastics, synthetic rubbers, and components. • Plastics Manufacturing – consumer and industrial products. • Pharmaceuticals – active chemical ingredients and solvents. • Consumer Goods – packaging, textiles, and household products.

🏢 Leading Market Players: • Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia) • Exxon Mobil Corporation (U.S.) • Royal Dutch Shell plc (Netherlands) • BP plc (U.K.) • Chevron Corporation (U.S.)

📈 The demand for versatile petrochemical products remains resilient, driven by innovation in plastics, sustainable feedstocks, and advanced downstream processing.