Glycerol transesterification with dimethyl carbonate using nano alumina based catalysts

In this study, nanocrystalline alumina (gamma-Al2O3) particles were functionalized by potassium carbonate (K2CO3) and used as alkaline heterogeneous catalysts for the transesterification of glycerol with dimethyl carbonate for the synthesis of glycerol carbonate. The loading ratio of K2CO3 to alumina (5-20 wt.%) and reaction temperature were investigated. Glycerol carbonate was successfully synthesized in the presence of synthesized catalyst with 20 wt.% K2CO3 loaded into alumina and the highest yield of glycerol carbonate of 94.5 % was obtained by 3 h of reaction time at 363 K (at reflux temperature of DMC) with a DMC/glycerol molar ratio of 2 and using 3 wt.% catalyst. Chemical analysis of the glycerol carbonate was performed by using ATR-FTIR and obtained glycerol carbonate was found to be pure.