Do you know which is the world’s largest volume organic compound?

It’s something that makes an amazing variety of products that includes many kinds of plastics, synthetic
fibers, elastomers, drugs, surface coatings, solvents, detergents, insecticides, herbicides, explosives,
gasoline additives, and countless specialty chemicals.

ETHYLENE. Because ethylene is one of the largest-volume petrochemicals worldwide, with such a diverse
derivative portfolio (including nondurable and durable end uses), ethylene consumption is sensitive to
both economic and energy cycles. Moreover, because of its size and broad usage, ethylene is often used
as a benchmark for the performance of the petrochemical industry as a whole.

So, what makes ethylene? Ethylene is produced via steam cracking of ethane or naphtha which are one
of the most energy and emission-intensive processes in the chemical industry. High operating
temperatures, significant reaction endothermicity, and complex separations create hefty energy demands
and result in substantial CO2 and NOx emissions that are detrimental to our environment.

Can we stop using ethylene? May be not, Ethylene is critical for the world’s growing middle class,
improving living standards and leading to fast-developing infrastructure. Can we switch to more efficient
and less energy-intensive methods for ethylene production? My name is Garima Jain and my research is
into thermally efficient and environmentally responsible chemical processes for ethylene production.

My work delves into 3 major areas = 1. Catalysis. I don a clean lab coat and synthesize novel chemical
compounds called catalysts that intensify the ethylene reaction. 2. Reaction Engineering I design small
vessels and equipment called chemical reactors in which ethylene production is carried out in the
laboratory. 3. Process design and optimization I link key process parameters such as efficiency, yield and
emissions to cost metrics.

Initial findings have been promising and support the feasibility of the processes we are developing. If
adopted at a global level, this innovative process can reduce annual CO2 emissions by over 100 million
tons for ethylene production.