How did acetylene chemistry rise and fall, and what does its history tell us about its current market role?

How did acetylene chemistry rise and fall, and what does its history tell us about its current market role?
Acetylene's industrial significance peaked before the 1970s, when it served as a cornerstone for chemical synthesis. The discovery pathway is instructive: after early laboratory synthesis via potassium carbide in 1836 and calcium carbide in 1862, large-scale production became feasible only in 1892 with the invention of the electric arc furnace, enabling cheap calcium carbide from coke and lime. This dual discovery—by Frenchman Hailoult and American Wilson—spurred an acetylene fuel boom, but practical use revealed severe drawbacks: violent combustion, high temperatures, and dangerous compressibility made it unsuitable as a general fuel. The chemical industry, however, embraced acetylene as a versatile building block. Production via calcium carbide requires energy-intensive arc furnaces operating near 2000°C, followed by hydrolysis. The traditional wet process uses excess water to manage heat and dissolve calcium hydroxide, but generates enormous wastewater volumes. The dry process, spraying water onto crushed carbide, reduces water consumption roughly fifteen-fold and produces drier, recoverable calcium hydroxide residue. Today, China still relies on calcium carbide for about 90% of acetylene production, though hydrocarbon pyrolysis and plasma cracking offer alternatives.