Solid base catalysts derived from Ca-Al-X (X = F-, Cl- and Br-) layered double hydroxides for methanolysis of propylene carbonate

Yunhui Liao; Feng Li; Yanfeng Pu; Feng Wang; Xin Dai; Ning Zhao; Fukui Xiao

doi:10.1039/c7ra10832j

Solid base catalysts derived from Ca-Al-X (X = F^-, Cl^- and Br^-) layered double hydroxides for methanolysis of propylene carbonate

RSC Adv. 2018 Jan 2;8(2):785-791. doi: 10.1039/c7ra10832j.

Authors

Yunhui Liao^{1

2}, Feng Li¹, Yanfeng Pu¹, Feng Wang¹, Xin Dai^{1

2}, Ning Zhao¹, Fukui Xiao¹

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Coal Conversion, Institute of Coal Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences 27# South Taoyuan Road Taiyuan 030001 P. R. China lifeng2729@sxicc.ac.cn xiaofk@sxicc.ac.cn.
² University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 P. R. China.

Abstract

The Ca-Al and Ca-Al-X (X = F^-, Cl^- and Br^-) catalysts were prepared via thermal decomposition of Ca-Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs), and tested for methanolysis of propylene carbonate (PC) to produce dimethyl carbonate (DMC). The catalytic performance of these catalysts increased in the order of Ca-Al-Br^- < Ca-Al < Ca-Al-Cl^- < Ca-Al-F^-, which was consistent with the strong basicity of these materials. The recyclability test results showed that the addition of Al and halogens (F^-, Cl^- and Br^-) not only stabilized the CaO but also improved the recyclability of the catalysts. Particularly, the Ca-Al-F^- catalyst exerted the highest stability after 10 recycles. These catalysts have an important value for the exploitation of DMC synthesis by transesterification of PC with methanol.