Abstract
•Catalytic transesterification with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) converts glycerol into glycerol carbonate (GLC).•DMC and Srx–Al catalysts affect the reaction mechanisms that convert glycerol into GLC.•The morphology and textural structure of Srx–Al catalysts perpetuate catalytic activity.•The atomic ratio of Sr/Al has a unique effect on Sr–Al catalytic activity.•Sr0.5–Al catalyst exhibits limited leaching after five reaction cycles.
The high demand for renewable energy has led to the upsurge of methanol-assisted biodiesel synthesis. Therefore, glycerol as a byproduct entered the waste stream given the oversupply of biodiesel to the market. The dimethyl carbonate (DMC)-assisted transesterification of glycerol on a catalyst has been a popular approach for converting glycerol into valuable glycerol carbonate (GLC). The synthesis of GLC from the DMC-assisted transesterification of glycerol on mixed oxide catalysts (Srx–Al) with different Sr/Al ratios was examined in this study. A glycerol conversion of 99.4% and a GLC yield of 100% were achieved in a catalyst with Sr/Al=0.5 (Sr0.5–Al). Both values are higher than those in catalysts synthesized with Sr/Al=0.25 and 0.75. The Sr0.5–Al catalyst withstood five transesterification reaction cycles without a serious deactivation induced by the leaching of active SrO. Therefore, the Sr0.5–Al catalyst is suitable for consecutive uses in the DMC-assisted transesterification of glycerol with DMC into GLC.