Catalytic performance and properties of ceria based catalysts for cyclic carbonate synthesis from glycol and carbon dioxide

Ceria based catalysts are very effective for the synthesis of cyclic carbonate such as ethylene carbonate (EC) and propylene carbonate (PC) by the reaction of CO2 with ethylene glycol and propylene glycol. In these reactions, polycarbonate and ethers (diethylene glycol and dipropylene glycol) were not detected under optimum reaction conditions. This indicates that the PC and EC formation over CeO2–ZrO2 catalysts is highly selective. Catalytic activity was much dependent on the composition and calcination temperature of catalysts. On the basis of catalyst characterization by means of surface area measurement, X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, and temperature programmed desorption of NH3 and CO2, the relations between catalytic performance and properties are discussed.