Recent advances of nanoporous adsorbents for light hydrocarbon (C-1 - C-3) separation

Abstract

Hydrocarbons are exclusively composed of carbon and hydrogen and serve as crucial raw materials for several chemical processes. Light hydrocarbons are produced via catalytic cracking and the dehydrogenation of long chain hydrocarbons and require effective separation due to undesirable components or impurities. Adsorptive separation is considered a promising technique because of its lower energy consumption than conventional processes (e.g., cryogenic distillation), and advances in materials science have led to the development of various nanoporous functional materials. This review focuses on the recent progress of nanoporous adsorbents developed for light hydrocarbon separation, which is classified into (1) acetylene separation, (2) alkene/alkane separation, and (3) propyne separation. The potential limitations of such adsorbents in practical applications are critically discussed, and future perspectives are presented.