Transesterification of ethylene carbonate with methanol over Zn-La mixed oxide catalysts

The transesterification of ethylene carbonate (EC) with methanol to synthesis dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and ethylene glycol (EG) over ZnO, La₂O₃ and Zn-La mixed oxides were explored. The catalysts were prepared by co-precipitation method and characterized by BET, XRD, TG-DSC, CO₂-TPD and Hammett titration. The influence of Zn/La atomic ratio, calcination temperature and reaction parameters (reaction temperature, reaction time, catalyst amount) on the catalytic activity were investigated. The results indicated that the binary Zn-La mixed oxide with Zn/La atomic ratio of 2:1 calcined at 500℃ showed the highest catalytic performance for the title reaction due to its strongest basicity, and the amount of strong basic sites of the catalyst should be responsible for the high transesterification activity.