Synthesis of glycerol carbonate from glycerol and CO2 over Cu-Zr complex oxide

Abstract

A series of Cu1–xZrxO2 bimetallic oxides with different Cu-Zr molar ratios for glycerol carbonate synthesis from glycerol and CO2 were prepared by hydrothermal method. The results found that the performance was significantly affected by the Zr doping amounts. Under the optimal reaction conditions, the Cu0.99Zr0.01O2 catalyst had the best catalytic performance. The conversion of glycerol and the selectivity of glycerol carbonate reached 64.1% and 85.9%, respectively. Cu1–xZrxO2 complex oxide exhibited better activity than pure CuO and pure ZrO2. The structures, morphologies and surface properties of the catalysts were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N2 adsorption and desorption, Temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), Temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR). It is speculated that the high activity is related to the degree of dispersion of Zr on the surface of CuO, the surface content of oxygen species and the number of acidic-basic sites. In addition, catalytic activity did not change significantly after six cycles, indicating the excellent stability of the catalyst.