Catalytic transesterification of glycerol with dimethyl carbonate to glycerol carbonate with Co3O4 nanoparticle incorporated MCM-41 derived from rice husk

A rice husk-derived MCM-41 catalyst has been synthesized, and active metal Co3O4 nanoparticles were incorporated. The synthesized MCM-41 derived from rice husk exhibited highly ordered p6mm hexagonal symmetry. The catalytic activity of the prepared catalyst was investigated for glycerol carbonate (GLc) synthesis through transesterification of glycerol (GLy) with dimethyl carbonate (DMC). Experimentally, it was found that 5 wt.% cobalt incorporated MCM-41 activated at 400 degrees C showed a higher yield of GLc, 60.2%, due to its optimum basicity. Approximately, 98.7 +/- 1.2% GLy conversion and 94.1 +/- 0.7% GLc yield was achieved with the batch reactor at adjusted conditions: a molar ratio of DMC-to-glycerol = 3, catalyst dosage = 6 wt.% (based on glycerol mass), reaction temperature = 90 degrees C, and reaction time = 2 h. The transesterification reaction kinetics were also studied using the ODE 15s tool in MATLAB. The catalyst's activation energy was calculated as 58.2 +/- 2.4 kJ/mol.

Automated summary

The rice husk-derived MCM-41 catalyst incorporated with 5 wt.% cobalt showed a higher GLc yield of 60.2% due to its optimal basicity. By adjusting conditions, a high GLy conversion rate of 98.7% and GLc yield of 94.1% were achieved in the batch reactor with the transesterification reaction taking place at 90 degrees C for 2 hours.