Synthesis of glycerol carbonate from biodiesel by-product glycerol over calcined dolomite

Abstract

Abstract Glycerol, which threatens the viability of biodiesel industries, can be converted to valuable chemicals and chemical intermediates, such as glycerol carbonate (GC). GC was synthesized by glycerol transesterification with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) on CaO–MgO mixed oxide catalyst prepared from natural dolomite. At calcination temperature of 800 °C, natural dolomite was converted to CaO–MgO mixed oxide to serve as catalyst in the conversion of glycerol to GC. Temperature changes and calcined dolomite surface and textural characteristics caused the glycerol transesterification with DMC to GC. The catalyst with 15