NUS Chemists Develop Sustainable Method for Electro - Synthesizing 1,3 - Butadiene from Acetylene

Chemists from the National University of Singapore (NUS) have developed a sustainable method for the electro - synthesis of 1,3 - butadiene, a raw material used in the production of synthetic rubber, from acetylene.

Reducing the energy demand and environmental impact of producing multi - carbon molecules is crucial for promoting a more sustainable chemical industry. A key approach is electrification, which uses renewable electricity to convert simple raw materials such as water and carbon dioxide (CO₂) into valuable chemicals and fuels. To achieve this goal, clear target molecules and efficient synthetic routes need to be identified.

One such target is 1,3 - butadiene. Currently, 1,3 - butadiene is a secondary by - product produced together with ethylene in the energy - intensive cracking process of naphtha or ethane. Nevertheless, more than 18 million tons of this key raw material are produced annually.

The research team led by Associate Professor Yeo Boon Siang, Jason from the Department of Chemistry at the National University of Singapore, found that the copper catalyst, after being simply modified with iodide anions, is very effective in converting acetylene into 1,3 - butadiene. The research results were published in the journal Nature Catalysis.

This research was carried out in collaboration with the Basque Science Foundation in Spain and Dr. Federico CALLE - VALLEJO from the University of the Basque Country.

Professor Yeo said, "This work is the result of close collaboration among experimental scientists, theoreticians, and our industrial partners, aiming to explore how to produce important chemicals such as 1,3 - butadiene in a more sustainable way." Based on their research results, the research team plans to develop catalysts that can couple acetylene into long - chain hydrocarbons, which have the potential to be used as aviation fuels.