Synthesis of Glycerol Carbonate via Alcoholysis of Urea with Glycerol: Current Status and Future Prospects

Abstract

Glycerol carbonate is an important chemical in industrial chemistry. It could be synthesized from glycerol, which is a byproduct in the biodiesel production process. Alcoholysis of urea with glycerol is a promising approach for the synthesis of glycerol carbonate. Catalysts are indispensable for the reaction of alcoholysis of urea with glycerol. Summarizing the developed catalysts and unraveling the reaction mechanisms pave pathways to the rational design of better catalysts in the future. In this paper, the current status of Zn-based catalysts, La-based catalysts, Sn-based catalysts, hydrotalcite, and ionic liquids, as well as several other catalysts in alcoholysis of urea with glycerol is reviewed; in addition, the challenges and opportunities are noted and its future is prospected, with the aim to move this research field forward.

The Effect of Different Polyol Precursors on Disordered Spinel ZnAl2O4 Structure Prepared by the Polymeric Citrate Complex Method and the Corresponding Catalytic Behavior in the Glycerolysis of Urea

“…According to Yuqiao Li et al [ 1 ] Zn possesses the capability of activating glycerol through the formation of Zn–GC, making Zn‐based catalysts suitable for the alcoholysis reaction of urea with glycerol. In the reaction, the Lewis acid sites of Zn 2+ can coordinate with the Lewis basic carboxyl group in the urea molecule, thereby facilitating the reaction.…”

“…Among them, spinel compounds of the AB 2 O 4 are widely used as catalysts for numerous gas conversion processes, [9] applications in magnetic storage, satellite communications and information display technology, [10] anode materials for electrochemical energy storage, [11] and catalytic conversion of crude glycerol into high-value products. [1] Our previous studies on Zn-based catalysts reported that the calcination temperature affected the formation of spinel ZnAl 2 O 4 structures and DOI: 10.1002/sstr.202300337 ZnAl 2 O 4 is a cubic close-packed oxide with tetrahedral and octahedral sites in the lattice structure. The catalytic activity of ZnAl 2 O 4 is strongly connected with the surface properties caused by the partially inverse spinel ZnAl 2 O 4 structure.…”

“…However, transforming crude glycerol into high value-added products presents an effective approach to convert this waste into a valuable resource. [1] Numerous studies have identified attractive pathways for effectively utilizing glycerol, including the synthesis of esters, ethers, acetals, ketals, propanediols, epoxides, oxidation and dehydration products, and synthesis gas. [4] Glycerol carbonate (GC) is a unique biobased chemical with several advantageous properties.…”

“…As biodiesel is produced at larger scale, a substantial amount of crude glycerol is generated as a by‐product during production. [ 1 ] The growing demand for biofuels and fuel additives, particularly biodiesel, has resulted in a significant surplus of glycerol in the market. This surplus poses new challenges in terms of sustainable utilization and the exploitation of glycerol resources.…”

“…Among them, spinel compounds of the AB 2 O 4 are widely used as catalysts for numerous gas conversion processes, [ 9 ] applications in magnetic storage, satellite communications and information display technology, [ 10 ] anode materials for electrochemical energy storage, [ 11 ] and catalytic conversion of crude glycerol into high‐value products. [ 1 ] Our previous studies on Zn‐based catalysts reported that the calcination temperature affected the formation of spinel ZnAl 2 O 4 structures and their surface properties. [ 12 ] In the partially inverse ZnAl 2 O 4 , some Zn 2+ cations substituted for Al 3+ cations in the octahedral sites, while some Al 3+ cations substituted for Zn 2+ cations in the tetrahedral sites.…”