Phosphate Functionalization of CeO2–ZrO2 Solid Solutions for the Catalytic Formation of Dimethyl Carbonate from Methanol and Carbon Dioxide

Article abstract of DOI:10.1002/cctc.201701105

Phosphate surface groups on CeO₂–ZrO₂ solid solutions were generated by treating Ce–Zr–hydroxide precursors with phosphoric acid. In the catalytic formation of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from methanol and CO₂, the performance of the P-modified samples was markedly affected relative to that of the unmodified ones: Phosphate treatment caused remarkable changes in the phase composition, acid–base properties, and the ability to form monodentate methoxy intermediates. The DMC yield (1.6 %) was successfully improved from 0.24 to 1.6 % by phosphate modification of CeO₂–ZrO₂ (Ce/Zr=4.7, P/Zr=0.13) and by performing the reaction at 170 °C and 6.5 MPa for 1 h.