B2O3: A heterogeneous metal-free Lewis acid catalyst for carbon dioxide fixation into cyclic carbonates. (January 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zhao, Li-Yuan; Chen, Jun-Yue; Li, Wen-Cui; Lu, An-Hui
• Is Part Of: Journal of CO₂ utilization. Volume 29(2019)
• Page Start: 172
• Page End: 178
• Publication Date: 2019-01
• Subjects: CO2 utilization -- Metal-free Lewis acid -- B2O3 -- Cyclic carbonates -- Ball milling; Carbon dioxide -- Periodicals; Carbon dioxide -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Carbon dioxide mitigation -- Periodicals; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide -- Environmental aspects; Carbon dioxide mitigation; Periodicals; 628.53205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2018.12.006
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2212-9820

Abstract

Graphical abstract: B2 O3 was found as an effective metal-free heterogeneous catalyst for the chemical fixation of CO2 with epoxides. The Lewis acidic "boron" site on B2 O3 is essential to promote the ring opening process of epoxides. Highlights: B2 O3 was reported as an effective metal-free catalyst for the utilization of CO2 with epoxides to produce COCs. Ball milling could enhance the catalytic activity of B2 O3 by increasing the adsorption capacity to propylene oxide substrate. Lewis acidic boron sites of B2 O3 are the dominated active sites rather than B-O H. The ring-opening process of epoxides over B2 O3 was tracked by using in situ DRIFT. Abstract: Boron trioxide (B2 O3 ), a common and easily available boron oxide, was first reported as an effective metal-free heterogeneous catalyst for the chemical fixation of CO2 with epoxides to produce cyclic organic carbonates (COCs). The ball-milling treatment of B2 O3 significantly enhanced the catalytic activity by increasing the adsorption capacity to propylene oxide substrate. In situ DRIFTS characterization indicated there was a ring opening process of epoxides on the surface of B2 O3, which was induced by the boron sites from B2 O3 . The recovery test of B2 O3 showed that it could be easily recycled and reused for 5 runs without a loss of activity. This kind of Lewis acid catalytic property of B2 O3 marks a rare case of a metal-free heterogeneous catalyst mimicking the metal-based catalysts for the COCs production.