Preparation and characterization of MgO-CeO₂ mixed oxide catalysts by modified coprecipitation using ionic liquids for dimethyl carbonate synthesis

Mixed oxides of magnesium and cerium were prepared by a modified coprecipitation method using roomtemperature ionic liquids. The catalytic performance of these catalysts has been successfully investigated in the cogeneration of dimethyl carbonate and ethylene glycol via the transesterification process of ethylene carbonate with methanol. It was found that addition of an ionic liquid as a template material in the coprecipitaion method increased the surface area and decreased the particle size of the catalyst. Moreover, ionic liquids increased the surface basicity of the particles as well. Among the ionic liquids, it has been found that 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim][BF₄]) was the most effective ionic liquid to prepare nanoporous MgO-CeO₂ catalyst, which showed the best catalytic performance.