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Design and assessment of electrochemical carbonate-to-ethylene processes

Industrial processes for the electrolytic production of ethylene from aqueous carbonate feedstocks are not well defined. Now, process simulations and a techno-economic analysis identify barriers to the future commercial viability of this technology and the key process requirements and advances needed to make the process feasible.

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Fig. 1: Conversion of aqueous carbonates to ethylene by electrolysis.

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This is a summary of: Venkataraman, A. et al. Process and techno-economic analyses of ethylene production by electrochemical reduction of aqueous alkaline carbonates. Nat. Chem. Eng. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44286-024-00137-y (2024).

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Design and assessment of electrochemical carbonate-to-ethylene processes. Nat Chem Eng 1, 678–679 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44286-024-00146-x

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