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The cyclic redox scheme facilitated by the Fe-substituted hexaaluminates allows autothermal operation and higher olefin yields relative to the endothermic steam-cracking process. In the present work, Fe-substituted barium hexaaluminates (BaFe xAl 12– xO 19) were investigated as oxygen carriers, or redox catalysts, to convert n-hexane to olefins via ROC. To address these challenges, we proposed a chemical looping approach to convert naphtha into olefins via a redox oxidative cracking (ROC) process.
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Coke formation in the steam cracker tubes represents another obstacle. However, the highly endothermic nature of steam generation and the cracking reactions make this process highly energy- and CO 2-intensive. Light olefins such as ethylene and propylene are critical building blocks in the chemical industry and are currently produced mainly from steam cracking of naphtha.
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