Introducing allies: Co-feeding certain additives into light alkane aromatization has been established to effectively address some of the main concerns of the highly potent yet challenging reactions. This review gathers an abundance of information from the literature on the successful application of co-feeds and aims to deliver a comprehensive understanding of the working mechanisms behind it.

Abstract

Catalytic conversion of light alkanes (C₁-C₃) to aromatics offers an attractive valorization route for abundant gas resources and has been a prevalent topic of research over the past few decades. Despite considerable advancements in the understanding of these reactions, several fundamental and practical hurdles have prevented their industrial application. Among the numerous attempts to resolve these issues, co-feeding certain additives yields promising results, including the activation of alkanes under milder conditions, an increase in catalytic stability, and a shift in product distribution towards more desirable compounds. Systematic studies have elucidated the precise working mechanism of the co-feeds in aromatization systems, explaining the experimentally observed results. This review provides an extensive compilation of information on the application of co-feeds in light alkane aromatization, which has accumulated in the literature since the pioneering reports in the 1990s. Detailed summaries are provided for each additive, ranging from hydrocarbons to oxidants. Viable strategies for future work in this field, aiming to bridge the gap between academic studies and industrial applications, are also discussed.