Catalytic synthesis of diethyl carbonate via one-pot reaction from carbon dioxide, ethanol, and epoxide

Carbon dioxide is one of the responsible substances of the global warming effect. Gasoline consumption had increased significantly each year, it leads to the intense elevation of particulate matter and carbon dioxide compound in the atmosphere, which are the products of combustion of fuel. Carbon dioxide is possibly converted to high valued compound, diethyl carbonate (DEC) is one of the alternative compounds that is being employed as an additive for fuel to diminish the emission with increasing octane number of the fuel. The objective of this study was to research and develop a technology of direct synthesis of DEC from Carbon dioxide, ethanol, epoxide as dehydrating agent and KI/Sodium Ethoxide and KI/Zeolite catalysts. Operation condition in this experiment had an initial pressure of 35 bar and temperature of 170°C. Further, the effects of KI/Sodium Ethoxide and KI/Zeolite catalysts were examined to the performance of DEC synthesis. In addition, the influence of the type of dehydrating agent (epoxide), which was propylene oxide and butylene oxide was investigated as well. Subsequently, the products were analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for qualitative analysis and gas chromatography for quantitative analysis. The results showed that DEC was successfully synthesis from carbon dioxide, and the optimum yield was obtained from the use of KI/Zeolite catalyst, propylene oxide as a dehydrating agent.