Selective conversion of syngas to light olefins

Small olefins from syngas The conversion of coal or natural gas to liquid fuels or chemicals often proceeds through the production of CO and H 2 . This mixture, known as syngas, is then converted to hydrocarbons with Fischer-Tropsch catalysts. For the light olefins (ethylene to butylenes) needed for chemical and polymer synthesis, conventional catalysts are mechanistically limited to <60% conversion and deactivate through carbon buildup. Jiao et al. developed a bifunctional catalyst that achieves higher conversions and avoids deactivation (see the Perspective by de Jong). A zinc-chromium oxide creates ketene intermediates that are then coupled over a zeolite. Science , this issue p. 1065 , see also p. 1030