Efficient Catalytic Synthesis of Glycerol Carbonate Using Optimized Na and K Titanate Nanotubes Catalysts

Abstract

The synthesis of glycerol carbonate from glycerol has garnered significant research attention because of its wide application in the lithium-ion battery and pharmaceutical industries. This study summarizes the catalytic transformation of glycerol to glycerol carbonate using Na and K titanate nanotubes as catalysts. We report the synthesis of Na and K titanate nanotubes catalyst by a simple co-precipitation route and investigate their catalytic activity in the transesterification of glycerol. The physicochemical properties of the Na and K titanate nanotubes catalyst were successfully studied by CO2-TPD and XRD. The designed catalyst possesses high catalytic efficiency and stability in the transesterification reaction of glycerol. Based on its surface area and basicity, several experiments were performed, and it was observed that under optimized conditions (i.e., 5 wt.% catalyst loading, 5:1 molar ratio of DMC to glycerol, 90 °C, and 90 min), the highest conversion of glycerol was achieved, 92.6% glycerol carbonate. The high thermal stability and recyclability make it an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for the synthesis of glycerol carbonate.