Ceramic ethane-to-ethylene membrane could replace pyrolysis.

The article features the research conducted by the Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory to develop a membrane capable of producing olefins from alkanes and to reduce waste energy and pollutants while improving selectivity and yield in the U.S. Previously, steam cracking or pyrolysis was commonly used as a production method for olefins including ethylene, propylene and 1,3-butadiene but it has suffered from low conversion yield and selectivity and energy intensive. To address the problem, they are developing three types of hydrogen transport membranes. Discussed are the details of the research.