THE CATALYTIC PERFORMANCE OF Mg-Al CATALYST IN TRANSESTERIFICATION OF GLYCEROL WITH ETHYLENE CARBONATE

The development of heterogeneous catalysts for oleochemical reactions is becoming very important, because such catalysts possess well defined catalytic active sites, which will increase catalytic activity and process efficiency. The use of hydrotalcites as heterogeneous catalyst has shown potentials in transesterification reaction due to their physico-chemical properties, such as good thermalstability, good mesoporous material, bigger surface area, good memory effect, and even balanced basicity/acidity active points. The catalytic performance of the calcined Mg-Al catalyst in the green process was developed for the conversion of glycerol to glyceryl carbonate using ethylene carbonate. The X-ray diffraction confirmed the calcined materials exhibit hydrotalcite pattern structure with surface area of 179 m(2) g(-1). The HT3.0c comprised of Mg:Al composition of 3:1 was the best catalyst. The catalyst is robust and reusable.