Direct Synthesis of Dimethyl Carbonate from Methanol and Carbon Dioxide over Ga2O3/Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 Catalysts: Effect of Acidity and Basicity of the Catalysts

CeXZr1-XO2 catalysts with different cerium content (X) (X = 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.8, and 1.0) were prepared by a sol-gel method for use in the direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate from methanol and carbon dioxide. Among these catalysts, Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 was found to show the best catalytic performance. In order to enhance the acidity and basicity of Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 catalyst, Ga2O3 was supported on Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 (XGa2O3/Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 (X = 1, 5, 10, and 15)) by an incipient wetness impregnation method with a variation of Ga2O3 content (X, wt%). Effect of acidity and basicity of Ga2O3/Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 on the catalytic performance in the direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate was investigated using NH3-TPD and CO2-TPD experiments. Experimental results revealed that both acidity and basicity of the catalysts played a key role in determining the catalytic performance in the direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate from methanol and carbon dioxide. Large acidity and basicity of the catalyst facilitated the formation of dimethyl carbonate. The amount of dimethyl carbonate produced over XGa2O3/Ce0.6Zr0.4O2 catalysts increased with increasing both acidity and basicity of the catalysts. Among the catalysts tested, 5Ga(2)O(3)/Ce0.6Zr0.4O2, which retained the largest acidity and basicity, showed the best catalytic performance in the direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate from methanol and carbon dioxide.