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Rekindling the use of acetylene as a chemical building block

Nature Chemical Engineering volume 2, pages 99–109 (2025)Cite this article

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Abstract

Acetylene, produced from coal or natural gas, was a cornerstone of the chemical industry until the 1960s. However, the long-term global availability of inexpensive petroleum before 1973 accelerated the production of olefins, diminishing acetylene’s market prominence because of their similar downstream applications. As petroleum prices fluctuate, acetylene has regained economic viability in certain regions, notably accounting for approximately one-third of the global vinyl chloride production, despite its high carbon footprint. Environmental and economic assessments show that replacing coal with biochar in acetylene-derived vinyl chloride production not only lowers the carbon footprint but also could remain economically viable compared with the ethylene route. Despite this potential, research on acetylene has been largely overlooked for decades. Here we provide an analysis of acetylene production technologies, propose sustainable production initiatives and quantify their economic and environmental performance, and explore potential applications. By showcasing this promising trajectory, we seek to rekindle interest and foster collaborative efforts in advancing sustainable acetylene production and broadening its use as a building block.

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Fig. 1: The acetylene timeline.
Fig. 2: C2H2 production routes and past and current applications.
Fig. 3: Commercial C2H2 production routes.
Fig. 4: Emerging C2H2 synthesis routes.
Fig. 5: Potential green C2H2 synthesis routes.
Fig. 6: Environmental and economic comparison of C2H2 manufacture.

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Acknowledgements

This publication was created as part of NCCR Catalysis (grant number 180544), a National Centre of Competence in Research funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation.

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  1. Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    Zihao Zhang, Abhinandan Nabera, Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez & Javier Pérez-Ramírez

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  1. Zihao Zhang
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  2. Abhinandan Nabera
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Contributions

Z.Z. and J.P.-R. conceived this Perspective. Z.Z. and A.N. produced figures. A.N. and G.G.-G. completed the life cycle assessment and techno-economic study. Z.Z. and A.N. co-wrote the paper. G.G.-G. and J.P.-R. revised the paper. J.P.-R. supervised the project. All authors reviewed, edited and enriched each section of the Perspective.

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Correspondence to Javier Pérez-Ramírez.

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Zhang, Z., Nabera, A., Guillén-Gosálbez, G. et al. Rekindling the use of acetylene as a chemical building block. Nat Chem Eng 2, 99–109 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44286-025-00185-y

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