Boosted selectivity towards glycerol carbonate using microwaves vs conventional heating for the catalytic transesterification of glycerol

Identifier:  imarina:5131973

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/imarina5131973

Authors:  Granados-Reyes, Judith; Salagre, Pilar; Cesteros, Yolanda

Abstract:
Several hydrocalumite-type materials and some of their calcined forms have been tested for the catalytic transesterification of glycerol towards glycerol carbonate under microwaves, and by conventional heating for comparison. Microwaves slightly increased conversion but greatly increased selectivity to glycerol carbonate for all catalysts while the selectivity to glycidol was similar. Glycerol conversion values were 63-95% in microwaves and 61-91% by conventional heating, while selectivity to glycerol carbonate values were 53-92% in microwaves and 30-80% by conventional heating. Interestingly, microwaves favored transesterification since the sum of the selectivity values to glycerol carbonate and glycidol was higher than when using conventional heating.