A research team in China has developed a novel catalytic strategy that enables the efficient conversion of syngas—a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen into light olefins under mild conditions, the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, reported. The study was published Wednesday in Nature.
Led by Professors Sun Jian and Ge Qingjie, the team addressed key challenges in traditional Fischer-Tropsch processes, which typically require temperatures above 300°C and pressures over 2 megapascals, resulting in high energy consumption. Conventional methods also face a trade-off: as carbon monoxide conversion increases, light olefins can over-convert into alkanes or heavy waxes.
The researchers found that adding specific hydroxy promoters to a sodium-cobalt-manganese catalytic system prevents excessive reduction and carbonization of the catalyst. Under milder conditions (250–260°C and 0.1 MPa), the system achieved roughly 80% carbon monoxide conversion, 60% selectivity for light olefins, and over 80% total olefins selectivity.
“This approach offers new insights into the regulation of syngas conversion reactions,” the study noted.
The team plans to continue research on hydroxy promoters, catalyst design, and reaction process optimization to support clean coal utilization and low-carbon chemical production in China.