Functionalized DVB-based polymer catalysts for glycerol and CO2 catalytic conversion

Enhancing the Green Synthesis of Glycerol Carbonate: Carboxylation of Glycerol with CO2 Catalyzed by Metal Nanoparticles Encapsulated in Cerium Metal-Organic Frameworks

The reaction of glycerol with CO2 to produce glycerol carbonate was performed successfully in the presence of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) supported by a metal-organic framework (MOF) constructed from mixed carboxylate (terephthalic acid and 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid). The most efficient were two AuNPs@MOF catalysts prepared from pre-synthesized MOF impregnated with Au3+ salt and subsequently reduced to AuNPs using H2 (catalyst 4%Au(H2)@MOF1) or reduced with NaBH4 (catalyst 4%Au@PEI-MOF1). Compared to existing catalysts, AuNPs@MOFs require simple preparation and operate under mild and sustainable conditions, i.e., a much lower temperature and the lowest CO2 overpressure ever reported, with MgCO3 having been found to be the optimal dehydrating agent. Although the yield of the process is still not competitive with previously developed systems, the most promising advantage is the highest TOF (78 h-1) ever reported for this reaction. The optimal parameters observed for AuNPs were also tested on AgNPs and CuNPs with promising results, suggesting their great potential for industrial application. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM, SEM-EDS, ICP-MS, XPS, and porosity measurements, confirming that AuNPs are present in low concentration, uniformly distributed, and confined to the cavities of the MOF.

Synthesis of cyclic carbonates from CO2 cycloaddition to bio-based epoxides and glycerol: an overview of recent development

Anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions contribute significantly to global warming and deplete fossil carbon resources, prompting a shift to bio-based raw materials. The two main technologies for reducing CO₂ emissions are capturing and either storing or utilizing it. However, while capture and storage have high reduction potential, they lack economic feasibility. Conversely, by utilizing the CO₂ captured from streams and air to produce valuable products, it can become an asset and curb greenhouse gas effects. CO₂ is a challenging C1-building block due to its high kinetic inertness and thermodynamic stability, requiring high temperature and pressure conditions and a reactive catalytic system. Nonetheless, cyclic carbonate production by reacting epoxides and CO₂ is a promising green and sustainable chemistry reaction, with enormous potential applications as an electrolyte in lithium-ion batteries, a green solvent, and a monomer in polycarbonate production. This review focuses on the most recent developments in the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from glycerol and bio-based epoxides, as well as efficient methods for chemically transforming CO₂ using flow chemistry and novel reactor designs.

Effect of Calcination Temperatures on Surface Properties of Spinel ZnAl2O4 Prepared via the Polymeric Citrate Complex Method-Catalytic Performance in Glycerolysis of Urea

In this study, we investigated urea glycerolysis over ZnAl₂O₄ catalysts that were prepared by using a citrate complex method and the influence of calcination temperatures on the surface properties of the prepared catalysts by varying the calcination temperature from 550 °C to 850 °C. As the reciprocal substitution between Al³⁺ and Zn²⁺ cations led to the formation of a disordered bulk ZnAl₂O₄ phase, different calcination temperatures strongly influenced the surface properties of the ZnAl₂O₄ catalysts, including oxygen vacancy. The increase in the calcination temperature from 550 °C to 650 °C decreased the inversion parameter of the ZnAl₂O₄ structure (from 0.365 to 0.222 for AlO₄ and 0.409 to 0.358 for ZnO₆). The disordered ZnAl₂O₄ structure led to a decrease in the surface acidity. The ZnAl₂O₄-550 catalyst had a large specific surface area, along with highly disordered surface sites, which increased surface acidity, resulting in a stronger interaction of the Zn NCO complex on its surface and an improvement in catalytic performance. Fourier transform infrared and thermogravimetric analysis results of the spent catalysts demonstrated the formation of a greater amount of a solid Zn NCO complex over ZnAl₂O₄-550 than ZnAl₂O₄-650. Consequently, the ZnAl₂O₄-550 catalyst outperformed the ZnAl₂O₄-650 catalyst in terms of glycerol conversion (72%), glycerol carbonate yield (33%), and byproduct formation.

Perspectives for the Upgrading of Bio-Based Vicinal Diols within the Developing European Bioeconomy

The previous decade has witnessed a drastic increase of European incentives aimed at pushing forward the transition from an exclusively petro-based economy toward a strong and homogeneous bio-based economy. Since 2012, numerous programs have been developed to stimulate and promote research and innovation relying on sustainable and renewable resources. Terrestrial biomass is a virtually infinite reservoir of biomacromolecules, the biorefining of which provides platform molecules of low complexity yet with tremendous industrial potential. Among such bio-based platform molecules, polyols and, more specifically, molecules featuring vicinal diols have gained tremendous interest and have stimulated an increasing research effort from the chemistry and chemical engineering communities. This Review revolves around the most promising process conditions and technologies reported since 2012 that specifically target bio-based vicinal diols and promote their transformation into value-added molecules of wide industrial interest, such as olefins, epoxides, cyclic carbonates, and ketals.

A highly efficient rod-like-CeO2-supported palladium catalyst for the oxidative carbonylation of glycerol to glycerol carbonate

A rod-like-CeO₂-supported Pd catalyst (Pd/CeO₂-r) was prepared using two-step hydrothermal impregnation and used in the oxidative carbonylation of glycerol to produce glycerol carbonate. The characterization results showed that the Pd was highly dispersed on the surface of the CeO₂-r, and metallic Pd was the main species in the catalyst. The Pd/CeO₂-r exhibited good catalytic performance for the oxidative carbonylation of glycerol. Under optimized reaction conditions, the glycerol conversion and glycerol carbonate selectivity were 93% and 98%, respectively, and turnover frequency was 1240 h⁻¹. However, because of the leaching of Pd and the growth of Pd particles, the catalyst was gradually deactivated throughout reuse.

Pd/CeO₂-r was prepared by a two-step hydrothermal-impregnation method for oxidative carbonylation of glycerol. It exhibited high activity, and glycerol conversion was 93% and glycerol carbonate selectivity was 98% with a TOF of 1240 h⁻¹ under optimized conditions.

Recent Progress in Synthesis of Glycerol Carbonate and Evaluation of Its Plasticizing Properties

The state of the art on the glycerol carbonate (GC) synthesis has been updated since the last published reviews in 2012, 2013, and 2016. Three types of reactions continue to be studied: glycerolysis of urea, transcarbonation of DMC, DEC, or cyclic carbonates with glycerol and reaction using CO₂. Among these different routes, DMC and glycerol were selected as the raw materials for the GC synthesis in this work since the transcarbonation from these green reagents leads to high yields and selectivities, using mild conditions including a less energy consuming GC separation process. Catalytic conditions using Na₂CO₃ seem to be a good compromise to achieve a high yield of GC, leading to an easier purification step without GC distillation. Mild temperatures for the reaction (73–78°C) as well as a low waste amount confirmed by the E-factor calculation, are in favor of controlled costs. Plasticizing properties of synthesized GC were compared to the behaviors of a commercial plasticizer and natural dialkyl carbonates, for a colorless nail polish formulation. The resulting films subjected to mechanical and thermal stresses (DMA and Persoz pendulum) showed the high plasticizing effect of GC toward nitrocellulose based films, probably due to hydrogen bond interactions between GC and nitrocellulose. The GC efficiency gives the possibility to decrease the content of the plasticizer in the formulation. Glycerol carbonate can be thus considered as a biobased ingredient abiding by the green chemistry concepts, and safe enough to be used in an ecodesigned nail polish formulation.