Abstract
With stricter ecological regulation and reduction of fossil feedstock, the research works have been orientated to renewable resources. Various bio-based molecules were proposed for replacing the platform chemicals based on crude oil, but there are not yet well established processes for producing these chemicals at large scale. As a result, in the short to mid-term, a main impact will be expected from the production of bio-based bulk chemicals having identical structure with that of the today’s bulk chemicals. Among them, ethylene, which is a key intermediate for the production of platform molecules. The commercial method for producing ethylene is based on steam thermal cracking, but emerging method using alternative sources (natural gas, coal, biomass) are very promising processes. For example, the high-volume production of ethylene by ethanol dehydration became economically feasible application. This review summarizes the advances of catalysts, processes and fundamental understanding of reaction mechanisms in ethylene conversion to other high value hydrocarbons, including propylene, butenes and aromatics BTX.