Chemical equilibrium of glycerol carbonate synthesis from glycerol

In this paper, the chemical equilibrium for the glycerol carbonate preparation from glycerol was investigated. The chemical equilibrium constants were calculated for the reactions to produce glycerol carbonate from glycerol. The theoretical calculation was compared with the experimental results for the transesterification of glycerol with dimethyl carbonate. Transesterification of glycerol with cyclic carbonates or alkyl carbonates is thermodynamically favourable for producing glycerol carbonate from glycerol according to the equilibrium constant. Increasing temperature can increase the chemical equilibrium constant for the reaction of glycerol with dimethyl carbonate. For the reaction of glycerol with ethylene carbonate, increasing temperature can decrease the chemical equilibrium constant. The reaction of glycerol with carbon dioxide is thermodynamically limited. High temperature and low pressure are favourable to the reaction of glycerol and urea.

Research highlights
► Transesterification of glycerol with cyclic carbonates or alkyl carbonates is thermodynamically favourable for the preparation of glycerol carbonate from glycerol.
► The reaction of glycerol and carbon dioxide is thermodynamically limited.
► High temperature and low pressure is favourable to the reaction of glycerol and urea.
► Increasing temperature can increase the chemical equilibrium constant for the reaction of glycerol and dimethyl carbonate.
► For the reaction of glycerol and ethylene carbonate, increasing temperature can decrease the chemical equilibrium constant.