Nuclear chemistry

Catalysis

Reactivity (psychology)

Methyl formate

Dimethyl carbonate

Dopant

Methanol

Inorganic chemistry

Carbonate

Alternative medicine

Combinatorial chemistry

Physics

Physisorption

Organic chemistry

Dimethoxymethane

Dehydrogenation

Doping

Hydrolysis

Medicine

Chemistry

Selectivity

Optoelectronics

Pathology

Copper

Journal of Catalysis

The effect of copper as dopant on ceria (CeO2) was investigated in the direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from CO2 and methanol. Ceria with different copper loadings (0.02 and 0.5 wt%) was synthesized using the dry impregnation method and characterized by H2-TPR, XRD, EPR, UV–VIS/DRS, acid-base properties and N2 physisorption. CeO2 with 0.02 wt% of Cu showed the highest catalytic activity and selectivity to DMC, mostly due to its basic sites, associated with the presence of oxygen vacancies. Higher Cu concentration (0.5 wt%) promotes dehydrogenation, favoring the formation of methyl formate as the main product. Pure CeO2 also produced dimethoxymethane as by-product. To circumvent the thermodynamic limitations of the reaction, methyl trichloroacetate was tested as dehydrating agent, showing superior performance than 2-cyanopyridine, due to its higher reactivity toward hydrolysis.

Synthesis of dimethyl carbonate from CO2 and methanol over CeO2: Role of copper as dopant and the use of methyl trichloroacetate as dehydrating agent