Heterogeneous catalysis in supercritical CO2 conditions aplication in dimethyl carbonate synthesis

Abstract

In the present work, the development of a new catalytic system based on the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) starting from methanol and carbon dioxide in supercritical conditions was investigated. Various metallophthalocyanines (MPc: ZnPc, CoPc, AlClPc, CuPc(SO3Na)4, CoPc(SO3H)2-3, ZnPc(SO3H)2-3) were used as catalysts. In a first step reactions were carried out in homogeneous phase. No reaction was observed with non substituted phthalocyanines. In the case of Co and Zn substituted by SO3H moieties a DMC formation was observed. Tests are carried out in a 95 mL autoclave; the organics were separated from the catalyst via a vacuum distillation with a liquid nitrogen trap. The reaction products are analyzed by a GC-FID and GC-MS. Key-words. dimethyl carbonate, cyclic carbonate, supercritical carbon dioxide