Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2014, Vol. 35 ›› Issue (3): 310-318.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(12)60738-4

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Transesterification of glycerol with dimethyl carbonate over Mg-Al hydrotalcites

Liping Zhenga, Shuixin Xiaa, Zhaotong Houb, Mengyuan Zhanga, Zhaoyin Houa   

  1. a Institute of Catalysis, Department of Chemistry, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310028, Zhejiang, China;
    b Jiangsu Changlong Chemical Co., Changzhou 213031, Jiangsu, China
  • Received:2013-09-15 Revised:2013-10-23 Online:2014-02-26 Published:2014-02-26
  • Supported by:

    This work was supported by the National Natural Foundation of China (21273198, 21073158) and the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation (LZ12B03001).

Abstract:

Glycerol carbonate (GC) was synthesized via the catalytic transesterification of glycerol with dimethyl carbonate over a series of Mg-Al hydrotalcites with different Mg/Al ratios (0.5-6) under mild conditions. All catalysts exhibited a high selectivity toward GC. The sample with Mg/Al=2 exhibited 97.1% of selectivity toward GC and 66.9% of glycerol conversion at 70℃ for 3 h. Characterization results indicated that the activity of calcined Mg-Al hydrotalcites depended mainly on the surface area, pore diameter, and crystallinity.

Key words: Glycerol, Glycerol carbonate, Transesterification, Magnesium-Aluminum hydrotalcite