ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses chemical looping as a potentially efficient strategy to intensify light olefin production from shale gas. In the following sections, the general concept of chemical looping is introduced and described. Then, approaches for light olefin production via chemical looping from different components in shale gas including methane, ethane, and propane, as well as natural gas liquids, are discussed. The specific topics covered include chemical looping oxidative coupling of methane, chemical looping oxidative dehydrogenation, and redox oxidative cracking. They also briefly cover the production of syngas via chemical looping reforming and partial oxidation of methane. Partial oxidation, or gasification of fossil fuels into syngas, was also investigated in chemical looping partial oxidation schemes. Given the opportunities provided by shale gas revolution and the excellent potential for process intensification offered by the chemical looping strategy, the authors are optimistic with respect to the prospects of potential breakthroughs in light olefin production via the aforementioned approaches.
