Efficient conversion of olefins to ethylene and propylene: a review of olefin cracking

With the continuous increase in the demand for ethylene and propylene, the development of efficient production routes has become a significant focus within the petrochemical industry. Olefin cracking technology enables the efficient transformation of low-value C4 and higher olefins into high value-added ethylene and propylene. This review summarizes recent advances in olefin cracking reactions, highlighting the major influencing factors from the perspectives of feedstock types, catalysts, and process conditions. The impact of olefin carbon number and co-feeding strategies on reaction performance and product distribution is discussed, alongside the effects of zeolite structure, morphology, acidity and thermophysical properties on catalytic activity, product selectivity, and catalyst stability. Furthermore, the regulation of ethylene and propylene yields by reaction temperature and weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) is analyzed. Finally, current challenges are outlined and future research directions are proposed, particularly with respect to feedstock flexibility, catalyst optimization, and process integration in olefin cracking technology.