Catalytic Performance of Li/Mg Composites for the Synthesis of Glycerol Carbonate from Glycerol and Dimethyl Carbonate

Zhenmin Liu; Bin Li; Fengrui Qiao; Yan Zhang; Xiaoxiao Wang; Ziyan Niu; Jin Wang; Haiqiang Lu; Shen Su; Ruili Pan; Yuanyang Wang; Yongbing Xue

doi:10.1021/acsomega.1c05968

Catalytic Performance of Li/Mg Composites for the Synthesis of Glycerol Carbonate from Glycerol and Dimethyl Carbonate

ACS Omega. 2022 Jan 31;7(6):5032-5038. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.1c05968. eCollection 2022 Feb 15.

Authors

Zhenmin Liu^{1

2}, Bin Li^{1

2}, Fengrui Qiao^{1

2}, Yan Zhang^{1

2}, Xiaoxiao Wang^{1

2}, Ziyan Niu^{1

2}, Jin Wang^{1

2}, Haiqiang Lu^{1

2}, Shen Su^{1

2}, Ruili Pan^{1

2}, Yuanyang Wang^{1

2}, Yongbing Xue^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ School of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China.
² Shanxi Key Laboratory of High Value Utilization of Coal Gangue, Taiyuan University of Science and Technology, Taiyuan 030024, China.

Abstract

A series of Li/Mg composites were synthesized by the coprecipitation method using magnesium and lithium nitrates, and then used for the synthesis of glycerol carbonate (GC) from glycerol and dimethyl carbonate (DMC). The experimental results indicated that Li/Mg composites were prospective catalysts for GC synthesis. 92.05% glycerol conversion and 90.61% GC yield were obtained after reacting at 80 °C for 2 h in the presence of Li/Mg composites. The structure and properties of Li/Mg composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET), and CO₂-temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) techniques. It was inferred that the basic strength and basicity of Li/Mg composites were improved with increase in Li content. It was concluded that Li₂CO₃ was the main reactive species. A too-strong basic strength of Li/Mg composites could facilitate the glycerol conversion but impair GC selectivity.