Comparison the performance of both CuO and La2O3 as a metal oxide nanoparticles Catalyst in the carbonylation the Glycerol with Carbone Dioxide to produce Glycerol carbonate.

Abstract

Two types of metal oxide nanoparticle catalysts Lanthanum oxide (La₂O₃) and Copper oxide (CuO) are prepared by new method which was quick precipitation (QPT) method at calcination temperature of 400^oC for 4h and used for the synthesis of glycerol carbonate from the direct reaction by the carbonylation of Glycerol with Carbone Dioxide. The quick precipitation (QPT) was a new and important route for the preparation of nanoparticles catalyst and it was developed by strategy in this work. The effects of performance of (La₂O₃ and CuO) nanoparticle catalysts on the conversion of glycerol, yield of glycerol carbonate, selectivity of glycerol carbonate and Turnover frequency are researched. XRD, FT-IR and SEM are used for the characterization of the prepared metal oxide catalysts. It is found that the best metal oxide nanoparticles catalyst in GL carbonylation reaction is CuO prepared by quick precipitation (QPT) method at calcination temperature of 400^oC for 4h. Under 150 ^oC, 4MPa ( 40 bar.), 5h, and CuO catalyst amount 37.6% (based on ratio of glycerol weight) by using 2-pyridinecarbonitrate (C₆H₄N₂) as dehydrating agent and dimethylformamide (DMF) as solvent, the glycerol conversion, glycerol carbonate yield and selectivity are 48.64%, 38.88%, and 79.94%, respectively, and the turnover frequency (TOF) value of the catalyst can reach 0.2061h^-1, and the catalysts could be easily regenerated by washing with methanol and water after a reaction and then dried at 60 ^oC overnight after that calcination at 400^◦C for 4h without loss of activity after five recycling times.

Keywords:  glycerol ; glycerol carbonate ; carbon dioxide ; metal oxide nanoparticle  catalyst ; CuO nanoparticle catalyst ; carbonylation ; La₂O₃; DMF.