Highly efficient synthesis of glycerol carbonate over CuO/ZnO/MnO₂ catalyst

A CuO/ZnO/MnO₂ mixed oxide catalyst was prepared via a co-precipitation method and evaluated for its catalytic performance in the transesterification reaction to synthesize glyceryl carbonate (GC) using glycerol and dimethyl carbonate (DMC). MnO₂ acted as a support, enhancing adsorption capacity and significantly increasing the concentration of basic sites on the catalyst surface, consequently improving the catalyst's thermal stability and overall catalytic performance. By optimizing the Mn metal ratio, a CuO/ZnO/MnO₂ catalyst with the most favorable Cu/Mn ratio of 1/2 was obtained. Under optimized reaction conditions, the new and cheaper catalyst exhibited outstanding performance with 99.7 % GL conversion and 98.2 % selectivity towards GC. The development of CuO/ZnO/MnO₂ catalysts represents a promising approach for the green and cost-effective synthesis of GC using GL and DMC, avoiding the generation of harmful by-products and ensuring minimal environmental impact. This method operates at low temperatures and costs, further enhancing its appeal for sustainable industrial applications.