[MITEI Seed] Low-emissions production of ethylene via electrochemical ethane dehydrogenation

Description

Ethylene production has the second-highest greenhouse gas emissions of any single process in the industrial sector. Ethylene is also a key platform chemical and the basis for much of the US chemical industry. Ethylene is produced industrially through steam cracking of hydrocarbon feedstocks, an unselective and energy-intensive process that is difficult to decarbonize. In this project, Professors Surendranath and Green propose to employ electrochemistry to drive the production ethylene directly from ethane without carbon emissions. The new approach has the potential to dramatically lower the carbon footprint of ethylene production. The project integrates experimental and computational work with techno-economic analysis and life-cycle assessment of the proposed approach.