Preparation of Mg-Al based solid base for the transesterification of propylene carbonate and methanol

A series of transition metals (Fe, Cu, Zr) modified Mg-Al solid bases were synthesized by co-precipitation method and characterized by XRD, N₂ adsorption-desorption, FT-IR, XPS, CO₂-TPD. The catalytic performances were investigated for the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate via transesterification of propylene carbonate (PC) and methanol. The results reveal that the surface basicity of the samples varies with the addition of different metals. The surface basic strength and density of the catalysts are the main factors affecting the catalytic activity. Among the catalysts studied, FeMgAl exhibits the highest surface basic density and thus shows the best catalytic performance. The conversion of PC can reach 66.2% under the temperature of 65 ℃, reaction time of 4 h, methanol/ester molar ratio of 10:1 and catalyst amount of 4% of the reactant.