substance

Ethylene

Formula: C2H4
CAS: 74-85-1
InChIKey: VGGSQFUCUMXWEO-UHFFFAOYSA-N
ChEBI: CHEBI:18153

Show in the process graph →

Made by

Ethylene and propylene by ethane steam cracking (1000 kt/a ethylene, concept)Main productConcept · not reviewed

Used by

Acetaldehyde by the one-stage Wacker oxidation of ethylene (100 kt/a)FeedstockConcept · not reviewed
Ethanol by direct hydration of ethylene (100 000 t/a anhydrous, phosphoric acid catalyst)FeedstockConcept · not reviewed
Ethylbenzene by liquid-phase zeolite alkylation of benzene with ethyleneFeedstockConcept · not reviewed
Ethylene glycol by ethylene oxide hydration (glycols-only EO/EG plant, 1200 t/d MEG)FeedstockConcept · not reviewed

Takes part in

2C₂H₂OgivesC₂H₄+2COProduct · one process
2C₂H₄+2HCl+3O₂gives2CH₃Cl+2CO₂+2H₂OReactant · one process
2C₂H₄+H₂Oin equilibrium withC₄H₁₀OReactant · one process
2C₂H₄+O₂gives2C₂H₄OReactant · Partial oxidation of ethylene to ethylene oxide (silver catalyst) · one process
2C₂H₄+O₂gives2C₂H₄OReactant · Ethylene + Oxygen → Acetaldehyde · one process
2C₂H₄givesC₄H₈Reactant · one process
C₂H₂+H₂givesC₂H₄Product · one process
C₂H₄+3O₂gives2CO₂+2H₂OReactant · Total combustion of ethylene (side reaction, R-101) · 4 processes
C₂H₆in equilibrium withC₂H₄+H₂Product · one process
C₂H₄+H₂Oin equilibrium withC₂H₆OReactant · one process
C₂H₄+HCl+O₂givesC₂H₃ClO+H₂OReactant · one process
C₂H₄+HClgivesC₂H₅ClReactant · one process
C₂H₄+O₂givesC₂H₄O₂Reactant · one process
C₃H₈givesC₂H₄+CH₄Product · one process

Routes compared

One route in the Atlas makes Ethylene: nothing to compare yet. A comparison appears when a second route is added.

Per 1 kg of Ethylene: inventory from each route's LCI dataset, unallocated; footprints per the functional unit of their own LCA.

Route	Tier, design maturity, review status	Geography, year	Energy	Feedstocks	Key emissions	Footprint	Comparability
Ethylene and propylene by ethane steam cracking (1000 kt/a ethylene, concept)ethane steam cracking, 1000 kt/a ethylene, front-end demethaniser, tail-end acetylene hydrogenation	flowsheet or hand-writtenDesign maturity: Concept (research)Not independently reviewedDataset review: unreviewed	GLO, 2026	Electric power (machine drives, D-015): 0.951 kWh MP steam 1800 kPa(a) to the dilution steam generator: 0.37 kWh LP steam 450 kPa(a) to the column reboilers: 0.367 kWh	Purity ethane feed (pipeline): 1.27 kg Natural gas make-up to the fuel header: 0.077 kg Combustion air: 6.31 kg (free) Boiler feed water make-up to the dilution steam system: 0.0167 kg Fresh caustic soda solution 10 wt%: 0.1 kg	C2H4 to the environment: 0 kg C2H6 to the environment: 0 kg CH4 to the environment: 0.0000176 kg CO2 to the environment: 0.472 kg NOx to the environment (estimated): 0.000421 kg CO to the environment (estimated): 0.00021 kg PM to the environment (estimated): 0.0000299 kg N2O to the environment (estimated): 0.00000176 kg	0.433 kg CO2-eqClimate change per 1 kg ethylene	–

ISO 14044 requires a critical review (by a panel of interested parties, ISO/TS 14071) of a comparative assertion intended to be disclosed to the public. These routes are listed side by side for screening; a statement that one is better than another needs that review. None of these routes has had such a review.