Zn–Ca–Al mixed oxide as efficient catalyst for synthesis of propylene carbonate from urea and 1,2-propylene glycol

A series of Zn–Ca–Al oxides with different CaO and ZnO contents have been prepared and evaluated in the synthesis of propylene carbonate(PC) from 1,2-propylene glycol(PG) and urea in a batch reactor. The effect of catalyst composition, basicity and reaction process parameters such as temperature, catalyst dose, molar ratio of PG to urea, purge gas flow and reaction time has been studied to find suitable reaction conditions for the PC synthesis. The PC selectivity and yield under the desired conditions could reach 98.4% and 90.8%, respectively. The best performing catalyst also exhibited a good reusability without appreciable loss in the PC selectivity and yield after five consecutive reaction runs. In addition, a stepwise reaction pathway involving a 2-hydroxypropyl carbamate intermediate was proposed for the urea alcoholysis to PC in the presence of Zn–Ca–Al catalysts, according to the time dependences of reaction intermediates and products.

A highly efficient La-modified ZnAl-LDO catalyst and its performance in the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate from methyl carbamate and methanol

In this paper,the highly efficient ZnAlLa layered double oxide(ZnAlLa-LDO)catalyst was evaluated and used in methyl carbamate(MC)alcoholysis synthesis of dimethyl carbonate.Under optimal conditions,the MC conversion was 33.5% and the dimethyl carbonate(DMC)selectivity was up to 92,4% at 443 K and in 9 h.The prepared catalysts were well characterized to investigate the effect on the catalytic performance and reaction catalysis mechanism.The experimental results show that the addition of La adjusted the structure and chemical properties of ZnAl composite oxide and that the synergistic effect among Zn,Al and La play a key role in adjusting the acid-base properties and stability of the catalyst,which definitely improved the DMC selectivity and catalytic stability.Based on the proposed reaction mechanism,two kinetic models of the catalytic reaction were established and modified:LangmuirHinshelwood and power-rate law kinetic model.The good agreement between kinetic models and experimental data showed that the power-rate law kinetic model based on the elementary reactions is a suitable model for providing a theoretical basis.The pre-exponential factor and activation energy of the main reaction are 5.77×10^(7)and 77.60 kJ·mol^(-1),respectively.