【Ten Years of Rapid Development in Chemical Equipment】Breakthrough achieved in 2024–2033 in the direct synthesis of linear α-olefins using pure-phase χ-ferric carbide catalysts

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Safety first. Prevention first – let’s give praise and support to the achievements in China’s chemical engineering technology and equipment. **********************【Ten Years of Great Development in Chemical Engineering Equipment】A continuously updated summary post is available; feel free to join the discussions at https://bbs.hcbbs.com/thread-3576046-1-1.html (Source: Haichuan Chemical Engineering Forum) ***************** On October 16, 2024, the Beijing Institute for Low-Carbon Clean Energy of the **Energy Group (hereinafter referred to as the Institute) made a significant breakthrough in developing a technology for the direct conversion of high-carbon syngas into linear α-olefins using pure-phase χ-ferritic catalysts, in collaboration with Eindhoven University of Technology in the Netherlands and other institutions. The relevant research findings were published in the journal Nature. 　　Through a pure-phase χ-ferric carbide catalyst, this study enables the direct conversion of syngas produced from coal, natural gas, or biomass into high-value chemicals such as linear α-olefins, thereby significantly improving carbon efficiency and reducing carbon dioxide emissions; it offers a new approach for the one-step synthesis of high-value linear α-olefins. The research findings propose a new theory regarding the \"pure-phase iron carbide catalyst system,\" and name this new technology as FTLAO technology. 　　Linear α-olefins are key core raw materials for the synthesis of high-grade chemicals such as advanced polyolefins, lubricants, and high-performance detergents. Currently, linear α-olefins in the world are mainly produced using ethylene oligomerization technology, but this method has high production costs and can only produce linear α-olefins with an even number of carbon atoms. China has a high dependence on imports of linear α-olefins, and their prices remain high, which severely hinders the development and innovation of China’s high-end chemical industry that relies on linear α-olefins as key raw materials. Therefore, developing new synthetic techniques for linear α-olefins with independent intellectual property rights is of critical importance for China’s high-end chemical industry. 　　It is reported that this technology first uses the reaction of coal with oxygen and water vapor at high temperatures to produce syngas as a raw material; the composition of the syngas is then adjusted through a water-gas shift reaction. Subsequently, under the action of a catalyst, a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction takes place to directly produce linear α-olefins, resulting in a mixture of such olefins. Purified single-carbon linear α-olefins are obtained through separation. 　　This technology reduces carbon dioxide generation by 80% compared to existing technologies, improves carbon efficiency by over 50%, and yields alpha-olefins at more than 100 times that of existing technologies at the same reaction temperature. This technology can be implemented under mild conditions of 250°C to 290°C, paving the way for the large-scale industrial continuous production of linear α-olefins. The Beijing Institute of Low-Carbon Clean Energy (hereinafter referred to as the “Institute”) is a research and development institution directly under the Energy Group, tasked with the important mission of fostering talent, developing innovative mechanisms, and producing significant results. The company currently has over 500 employees, 50% of whom are researchers with doctoral degrees, and more than 10% of the staff are talents brought in from abroad. The Low-Carbon Institute boasts key research platforms such as the National Key Laboratory for Water Resource Protection and Utilization in Coal Mining, the **Research and Development Center for Clean Conversion and Utilization of Energy and Coal, and the Beijing Engineering Research Center for Nanoscale Thin-Film Solar Cells. As a **model base for attracting talent and expertise, the Low-Carbon Research Institute aims to achieve the \"dual carbon\" strategic goals. Relying on its national key laboratories and research platforms, it has undertaken numerous **key projects, issued **industry technical standards, and won **level science and technology awards. It serves as a leading force and core team for central state-owned enterprises in establishing hubs for original technology development. Focusing closely on the **Energy Group’s needs for a green and low-carbon transformation of its industries as well as the development of strategic emerging industries, and relying on major project construction and technological upgrades, through independent research and development of core technologies and integrated innovation in applied technologies, a number of key core technologies have been developed in areas such as hydrogen energy, environmental protection, new types of energy storage, advanced materials, and modern coal chemical engineering. A range of significant scientific and technological achievements have been obtained, providing strong technical support for the **Energy Group to build itself into a world-class leader in clean and low-carbon energy technology as well as a first-class state-owned capital investment company. Since its establishment, it has undertaken a total of **68 projects**, formulated and issued **67 industry and organizational technical standards**, filed over 2,800 patent applications, and been granted more than 1,100 patents. Twenty of its original technologies have been evaluated and found to be at international first-class level ； Received 61 awards at the ** level, provincial (ministerial) level, and from industry associations ； More than 360 high-quality papers have been indexed in SCI and EI, of which over 60 have been published in top international academic journals such as Science, Journal of Physics: Energy & Materials, as well as subsidiary journals of Nature and Science ； It possesses over 30 technological achievements in areas such as coal mining, coal-based materials, coal chemical engineering, environmental protection, CCUS, hydrogen energy, and energy storage.