Reaction pathway and kinetic modeling for transformation of light olefins over SAPO-34 in the absence of methanol

•SAPO-34 catalyzed olefins cracking well obeys oligomerization-cracking mechanism.•Direct transformation between propene and butene dominates when fed separately.•Cracking rates of C3–C4 olefins over SAPO-34 are close to those over ZSM-5.•Cracking rates of C5–C6 olefins over SAPO-34 are far lower than those over ZSM-5.•SAPO-34 promotes higher propene yield than ZSM-5 does in C4+ olefins cracking.