A facile synthesis of glycerol carbonate by transesterification of glycerol with dimethyl carbonate: Ceria based catalysts

Abstract

Solid base catalysts such as Ceria-Zirconia-Magnesia with different mole ratio of magnesium were prepared by impregnation method and characterized by CO2-TPD, PXRD, FT-IR and ICP-OES analysis. The catalytic activity of the catalysts was tested in the liquid phase transesterification of glycerol with dimethyl carbonate to synthesise glycerol carbonate. Optimization of reaction condition was carried out by varying the molar ratio of the reactants, temperature and time. The highest yield (97 %) of glycerol carbonate was obtained at a reactant molar ratio of 1:3 at 120 °C in 6 h. Study of reusability and reactivation of solid base catalyst was also taken up. A suitable base catalysed mechanism for the formation of glycerol carbonate is proposed.