Efficiency in CO2-utilization strategies: The case of styrene carbonate synthesis in microdroplets conditions. (January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Urbani, Daniele; Rovegno, Caterina; Massi, Alessandro; Leblebici, Mumin Enis; Kayahan, Emine; Polo, Eleonora; Dambruoso, Paolo
• Is Part Of: Journal of CO₂ utilization. Volume 67(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-01
• Subjects: CO2 utilization -- Cyclic carbonates -- Aerosol reactions -- Microdroplets -- Nebulization; 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.2022.102328
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2212-9820

Abstract

Abstract: The styrene oxide to styrene carbonate conversion performed in CO2 atmosphere, herein selected as a case study, was implemented in microdroplets (aerosol) reactions at the preparative scale (3.5 mmol of the starting material) and mild conditions (1 atm CO2 pressure), within a custom-made ultrasonic nebulization reactor. Upon optimization of the promoter stoichiometry (1 eq of 4.3 TEG/KI ratio) and methanol (MeOH) dilution (7.5 mL of 2.5 v/v MeOH/TEG), performances under mass transfer-limited conditions of this novel methodological paradigm have been compared at 25 °C and 50 °C with those implemented as: a) no-stirred, b) stirred, and c) sonicated bulk reactions. Complete selectivity and an apparent acceleration factor (AAF) of 1.9 was registered at both temperature for microdroplets reactions in respect with the sonicated counterparts, these latter performing better than the other bulk reactions. These significative efficiency improvements, candidate aerosol reactions as a preferred process intensification approach in the realm of effective CO2 -utilization strategies and, in general, in the development and exploitation of gas-liquid two-phase reactions. Graphical Abstract: ga1 Highlights: Twofold rate acceleration in the direct carbonation of styrene oxide. Aerosol as an innovative methodological paradigm in biphasic gas-liquid reactions. Custom-made ultrasonic nebulization reactor for improved performances.