Continuous Synthesis of Glycerol Carbonate by Transesterification of Glycerol with Dimethyl Carbonate Over Fe–La Mixed Oxide Catalysts

Transesterification of glycerol with dimethyl carbonate to produce glycerol carbonate was studied under continuous reaction over Fe–La mixed oxide catalysts. A series of Fe–La oxide catalysts with different molar compositions were synthesized by co-precipitation method. Surface and structural investigations of the catalysts were carried using N2 physisorption, powder X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed desorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, FT-infra red spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Laser Raman spectroscopy. Glycerol carbonate yield was influenced by the molar ratios of Fe/La and catalyst calcination temperature, which are responsible for the variation in acid–base properties of the catalysts. The catalyst with a molar ratio of 1:1 calcined at 550 °C exhibited superior activity with 71% yield of glycerol carbonate. The synergistic effect between Fe–La oxides and the formation of LaFeO3 perovskite structure are responsible for the high activity of the catalyst. The catalyst exhibited unprecedented stability over 100 h during the time on stream analysis.