Synthesis of dimethyl carbonate from methanol and CO2 over Fe-Zr mixed oxides

A series of Fe-Zr mixed oxides with different Fe content were prepared and used for direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from CO2 and methanol. The best catalytic performance was achieved over the Fe0.7Zr0.3Oy catalyst, with DMC yield of 0.44 mmol.gcat(-1) and DMC selectivity of 100% under the reaction conditions of 110 degrees C and 12 MPa. Characterization results of N-2 physisorption, XRD, XPS, TPR and NH3! CO2-TPD indicated that the Fe-Zr mixed oxides with coexistence structure of hexagonal Fe2O3 and cubic Fe2O3 favored the formation of moderately acidic and basic sites, which then improved the activation of CO2 and methanol. The DMC yield was shown to be linearly related to the amount of moderately acidic and basic sites. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.