The influence of various synthesis methods on the catalytic activity of cerium oxide in one-pot synthesis of diethyl carbonate starting from CO2, ethanol and butylene oxide

•Synthesis of ceria by homogeneous precipitation at room temperature and in supercritical water.•Deposition of ceria on SBA-15.•Characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS, nitrogen physisorption and CO2 TPD.•Physico-chemical and catalytic properties dependence on preparation.•Activity tests in synthesis of diethyl carbonate from carbon dioxide and ethanol with butylene oxide as the dehydrating agent.

Different synthesis methods such as homogeneous precipitation at room temperature and supercritical water (T > 647 K and P > 22.1 MPa) were employed for cerium oxide preparation. Additionally, deposition of ceria on silica mesoporous material, SBA-15, was carried out. The obtained materials were characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen physisorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and CO2 temperature programmed desorption. Considerable variations in physico-chemical properties of the resulting materials were observed. The catalytic activities of pristine cerium oxide and ceria loaded on SBA-15 support were compared. The test reaction was synthesis of diethyl carbonate starting from carbon dioxide and ethanol using butylene oxide as the dehydrating agent.

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