Ethylene is a very important basic raw material for petrochemicals,and its major downstream products include polyethylene,polyvinyl chloride,ethylene oxide,ethylene glycol,styrene,vinyl acetate,etc.
At present,both domestically and internationally,the production of ethylene mainly relies on the cracking method using petroleum as raw material.With the decreasing availability of petroleum resources and the continuous rise of international oil prices,the petroleum route to produce ethylene will face unprecedented challenges.Many petrochemical companies around the world are actively exploring other routes,including using coal,natural gas,biomass raw materials,etc.to produce olefins,in order to reduce the excessive dependence of ethylene on limited petroleum resources.
The technology of using renewable biomass raw materials to produce ethanol and then dehydrating to produce ethylene is one of the important ways to adjust the energy structure,reduce environmental pollution,and promote sustainable development of the national economy and society.The main research goal for ethanol dehydration to produce ethylene is to improve the process flow,reduce equipment material and energy consumption,and increase efficiency.