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 °C, 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.