Recent Advances in Adsorptive Ethylene/Ethane Separation with Porous Materials

High-purity hydrocarbons are crucial in various fields, including electronics and the chemical industry. However, separating hydrocarbons can be challenging due to their structural and chemical similarities, particularly in the case of C₂H₄/C₂H₆ separation. The established industrial practice for C₂H₄/C₂H₆ separation, such as cryogenic distillation, typically involves energy-intensive processes. Adsorptive separation using porous materials is considered a promising alternative technology due to its potential to significantly reduce energy consumption, driving efforts to develop advanced adsorbents for this demanding task. This review summarizes distinct separation strategies established by exploiting the differences between C₂H₄ and C₂H₆ for their efficient separation. Subsequently, recent advances in porous materials for the adsorptive separation of C₂H₄ and C₂H₆ are discussed, with a focus on different separation mechanisms. Finally, perspectives on potential future research directions in this field are provided.