Synthesis of Propylene Carbonate from Epoxide and CO₂ Catalyzed by Carbon Nanotubes Supported Fe_1.5PMo₁₂O₄₀

Abstract

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were functionalized and were then used as supports of Fe 1.5 PMo 12 O 40 (FePMo) Keggin heteropolyanions catalysts. The characterization of the resulting catalysts was investigated by inductively coupled plasma spectrometry (ICP), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) light spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). FTIR and XRD results confirmed that FePMo was bounded on CNTs successfully and the Keggin structure was preserved. Characterization by TEM showed that solids with high FePMo content exhibited aggregation of FePMo in large particles. The as-prepared catalysts were tested in the synthesis of propylene carbonate (PC) from CO 2 and propylene oxide (PO) in a solvent-free reaction and under mild conditions. Effects of various parameters, such as reaction temperature, reaction time, FePMo content on the support, and catalyst loading on the reaction, were investigated. It has been found that CNTs supported FePMo achieved 57.7% PO conversion and 99.0% PC selectivity, whereas unsupported FePMo led only to 8.5% conversion and 48.6% selectivity. The remarkable enhancement of the catalytic activity over the supported catalyst can be attributed mainly to the better dispersion and reactivity of the FePMo catalyst in the supported material.

Polyoxometalate-Based Catalysts for CO2 Conversion

“…Carbon nanotubes-supported Fe 1.5 PMo 12 O 40 (theoretical formulas) obtained 57.7% propylene oxide conversion and 99.0% propylene carbonate selectivity, both activity and selectivity were higher than Fe 1.5 PMo 12 O 40 , Co 1.5 PMo 12 O 40 , Cu 1.5 PMo 12 O 40 , and Zn 1.5 PMo 12 O 40 (theoretical formulas). The good activity can be attributed to the well dispersion of the Fe 1.5 PMo 12 O 40 on the CNTs [87].…”

Nonmetal Schiff-Base Complex-Anchored Cellulose as a Novel and Reusable Catalyst for the Solvent-Free Ring-Opening Addition of CO2 with Epoxides

“…To improve the recyclability of the catalyst, researchers have begun to develop heterogeneous catalysts, mainly including metal oxides, molecular sieves, supported catalysts, − and carbon nanotube-ionic liquids-based catalysts. − Bhanage et al studied the catalytic performance of metal-oxide-catalyzed ring-opening addition reaction. The results showed that the catalytic performance of MgO and La 2 O 3 was better than that of ZrO 2 , CaO, ZnO, and CeO 2 .…”