Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Transesterification of Glycerol to Glycerol Carbonate Using KF/Al2O3 Catalyst: The Role of Support and Basicity

  • Published:
Catalysis Letters Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Glycerol carbonate was synthesized by transesterification of glycerol with dimethyl carbonate using KF supported catalyst. KF was impregnated on various oxides and non-oxide supports like Al2O3, SiO2, ZnO, ZrO2, H-beta, and carbon to study the influence of the support on the catalytic performance. The preparation procedure of supported KF catalysts was modified to remove weakly adsorbed KF from the catalyst surface. The generation of basic sites by KF depends upon the extent of KF interaction with the support. KF/Al2O3 catalyst with optimized amount of 3.8 mmol KF, gave the highest activity with 95.8 % glycerol conversion and almost 100 % selectivity for glycerol carbonate. It was truly heterogeneous without any leaching of active sites and also showed good reusability. The catalyst exhibited better performance when compared to conventional solid base catalysts such as MgO, CaO and hydrotalcite.

Graphical Abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Scheme 1
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Guerrero-Perez MO, Rosas JM, Bedia J, Rodriguez-Mirasol J, Cordero T (2009) Green Chem 11:21

    Google Scholar 

  2. Uno M, Okutsu M (2011) US patent 6495703 B2

  3. Herault D, Boutty B, Zander L, Strube A (2005) US patent 2005/0038266 A1

  4. George J, Patel Y, Pillai M, Munshi P (2009) J Mol Catal A 304:1

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Jean-Luc Dubois, Aresta M, Dibenedetto A, Ferragina C, Nocito F (2011) US patent 2011/0245513 A1

  6. Climent MJ, Corma A, Frutos PD, Iborra S, Noy M, Velty A, Concepcion P (2010) J Catal 269:140

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Ochoa-Gomez JR, Gomez-Jimenez-Aberasturi O, Madurga BM, Rodriguez AP, Ramirez-Lopez C, Ibarreta LL, Torrecilla-Soria J, Velasco MCV (2009) Appl Catal A Gen 366:315

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Alvarez MG, Sagarra AM, Contreras S, Sueiras JE, Medina F, Figueras F (2010) J Chem Eng 161:340

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Aresta M, Dibenedetto A, Nocito F, Ferragina C (2006) J Mol Catal A 257:149

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Aresta M et al (2011) US patent 2011/0245513 A1

  11. Simanjuntak FSH, Kim TK, Lee SD, Ahn BS, Kim HS, Lee H (2011) Appl Catal A Gen 401:220

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Du M, Li Q, Dong W, Geng T, Jiang Y (2011) Res Chem Intermediat 38:1069

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Takagaki A, Iwatani K, Nishimura S, Ebitani K (2010) Green Chem 12:578

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Malyaadri M, Jagadeeswaraiah K, Sai Prasad PS, Lingaiah N (2011) Appl Catal A Gen 401:153

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Bai R, Wang S, Mei F, Li T, Li G (2011) J Ind Eng Chem 17:777

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Bai R, Wang Y, Wang S, Mei F, Li T, Li G (2013) Fuel process. Technology 106:209

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Yamawaki J, Ando T (1979) Chem Lett 8:755

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Ando T, Yamawaki J (1979) Chem Lett 45:755

    Google Scholar 

  19. Raju V, Radhakrishnan R, Jaenicke S, Chuah GK (2011) Catal Today 164:139

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Murugan C, Bajaj HC (2011) Fuel Proc Tech 92:77

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Clacens JM, Genuit D, Delmotte L, Ruiz AG, Bergeret G, Montiel R, Lopez J, Figueras F (2004) J Catal 221:483

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Baba T (2000) Catal Survey Jpn 4:17

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Kabashima H, Tsuji H, Nakata S, Tanaka Y, Hattori H (2000) Appl Catal A Gen 195:227

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Reichle WT (1985) J Catal 94:547

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Swetha S acknowledges Admar Mutt Education Foundation (AMEF) for providing the fellowship and also thankful to Manipal University for permitting this research as a part of the Ph.D programme. The authors thank Bangalore Institute of Technology, India and Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (IICT), Hyderabad, India for providing surface area measurements and CO2-TPD respectively.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Materials Science Division, Poornaprajna Institute of Scientific Research (PPISR), Bidalur Post, Devanahalli, Bangalore, 562110, Karnataka, India

    Swetha Sandesh, Ganapati V. Shanbhag & A. B. Halgeri

Authors
  1. Swetha Sandesh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ganapati V. Shanbhag
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. A. B. Halgeri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ganapati V. Shanbhag.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sandesh, S., Shanbhag, G.V. & Halgeri, A.B. Transesterification of Glycerol to Glycerol Carbonate Using KF/Al2O3 Catalyst: The Role of Support and Basicity. Catal Lett 143, 1226–1234 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10562-013-1043-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10562-013-1043-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation