Recent advances of nanoporous adsorbents for light hydrocarbon (C1 – C3) separation

[Display omitted] •Recent progress on the development of nanoporous adsorbents for light hydrocarbon separation is discussed.•The performances of various types of nanoporous materials are presented in a systematic manner.•The key properties that lead to good separation performance are discussed for each hydrocarbon molecule.•Current challenges and future direction in adsorptive hydrocarbon separation are provided. Hydrocarbons are exclusively composed of carbon and hydrogen and serve as crucial raw materials for several chemical processes. Light hydrocarbons are produced via catalytic cracking and the dehydrogenation of long-chain hydrocarbons and require effective separation due to undesirable components or impurities. Adsorptive separation is considered a promising technique because of its lower energy consumption than conventional processes (e.g., cryogenic distillation), and advances in materials science have led to the development of various nanoporous functional materials. This review focuses on the recent progress of nanoporous adsorbents developed for light hydrocarbon separation, which is classified into (1) acetylene separation, (2) alkene/alkane separation, and (3) propyne separation. The potential limitations of such adsorbents in practical applications are critically discussed, and future perspectives are presented.