A novel Ce-CaO/MgO catalyst derived from marble waste through green synthesis route for glycerol carbonate synthesis

The present manuscript investigated the facile route for the synthesis of heterogeneous catalyst from marble waste (MW) for transesterification of glycerol to glycerol carbonate. The catalytic properties of MW derived catalyst were enhanced with active metal (Cerium) incorporation. The developed catalyst was characterized by different methods. The Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) surface area was found to be 10.90 m2/g for CaO/MgO derived from MW and 5.80 m2/g for cerium loaded CaO/MgO (Ce-CaO/MgO) catalyst. In X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, the co-existence of Ce3+ and Ce4+ species was found, which creates more oxygen vacancies (active sites) and improves catalytic activity and stability of the catalyst. Results revealed that a dosage of 5 wt% of Ce-CaO/MgO catalyst, calcined at 850 °C imparted a maximum yield of glycerol carbonate (91.74  ± 2.37%). The reusability study of the catalyst was also examined, and the novel catalyst would maintain its activity up to four cycles. The activation energy was found to be 39.046 ± 3.18 kJ/mol, and the rate of glycerol depletion was estimated as 2.08 × 10–02 ± 0.006 min−1 at 85 °C. The novel Ce-CaO/MgO catalyst may have the potential for industry-scale transesterification of glycerol into glycerol carbonate.