An efficient catalytic system for the synthesis of glycerol carbonate by oxidative carbonylation of glycerol

Glycerol carbonate was synthesized by the oxidative carbonylation of glycerol catalyzed by the commercial Pd/C with the aid of NaI.High conversion of glycerol(82.2%),selectivity to glycerol carbonate(>99%),and TOF(900 h–1)were obtained under the conditions of 5 MPa(pCO:pO2=2:1),140 oC,2 h.The highly active palladium species were generated in situ by dissolution from the carbon support and stabilized by re-deposition onto the support surface after the reaction was finished.Palladium dissolution and re-deposition were crucial and inherent parts of the catalytic cycle,which involved heterogeneous reactions.This Pd/C catalyst could be recycled and efficiently reused for four times with a gradual decrease in activity.Moreover,the influences of various parameters,e.g.,types of catalysts,solvents,additives,reaction temperature,pressure,and time on the conversion of glycerol were investigated.A reaction mechanism was proposed for oxidative carbonylation of glycerol to glycerol carbonate.