The effect of NaF amount on solid base catalysts derived from F-Ca-Mg-Al layered double hydroxides and dimethyl carbonate synthesis

Versatile and environmentally benign dimethyl carbonate (DMC) synthesized by propylene carbonate (PC) and methanol via transesterification is green and energy efficient. A series of solid base catalysts derived from F-Ca-Mg-Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with different NaF amount were prepared, characterized and tested for the transesterification reaction. The properties of the catalysts modified by fluorine have improved obviously. The catalytic activity increases in the order of: FCMA-0.8 > FCMA-0.4 > FCMA-1.2 > FCMA-1.6 > FCMA-0, which is consistent with the total basic sites amount and the strong basic sites amount. FCMA-0.8 has the best catalytic activity as pure CaO catalyst, and the PC conversion, DMC selectivity and DMC yield are 66.8%, 97.4% and 65.1%, respectively. Furthermore, the DMC yield for FCMA-0.8 just decreased 3.9% (33.2% for CaO catalyst) after 10 recycles. FCMA-0.8 has good prospects in the transesterification of PC with methanol to DMC for industrial application.