A Paradigm-Shifting Approach to Ethylene Purification and Separation Technologies

Objective

MULTISORBED: A Paradigm-Shifting Approach to Ethylene Purification and Separation Technologies The production of polymer-grade ethylene currently relies on energy-intensive processes such as catalytic hydrogenation, cryogenic distillation, and chemisorption, each targeting specific impurities like acetylene, propene, and CO2. While physisorbents offer a lower-energy alternative, achieving simultaneous removal of multiple impurities in a single step remains an unmet challenge. The MULTISORBED MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship proposes a novel, sustainable solution: a one-step ethylene purification technology using carbon adsorbents derived from food waste. This project will deliver: (1) Green synthesis of porous carbon materials: Development of high-surface-area, microporous, functional carbon adsorbents via hydrothermal carbonization and salt-templating of food waste. (2) Multisorbent bed technology: Design and lab-scale testing of layered adsorbent beds for room-temperature ethylene purification. (3)Molecular-level insight: Simulations to investigate how pore size, surface chemistry, and structure influence adsorption and selectivity. (4) In-silico scale-up: Process modeling of the multisorbent bed system to assess feasibility for industrial ethylene streams. By integrating green chemistry principles, materials innovation, technology and process intensification, MULTISORBED aims to deliver a low-cost, energy-efficient alternative to conventional separation technologies — with broad implications for the chemical and energy sectors.