Double Metal Cyanide Catalyst for Higher CO2 Polycarbonate Incorporation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing double metal cyanide catalysts exhibit low activity and low carbon dioxide incorporation ratios in polyalkylene carbonate polymerization, necessitating a catalyst with improved activity and carbon dioxide immobilization efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A double metal cyanide catalyst using a cycloalkyl alcohol as a complexing agent, such as cyclohexanol, in combination with a metal cyanide complex and metal salt, is developed, allowing for higher carbon dioxide incorporation and stable polymerization of polyalkylene carbonate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a double metal cyanide catalyst is used, then catalyst activity is high, but the ratio of carbon dioxide repeating units in polyalkylene carbonate is low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the catalyst system by introducing a specific complexing agent (cyclic carboxylate) to modify the catalyst's interaction with carbon dioxide and epoxide, thereby increasing the carbon dioxide incorporation ratio while preserving high catalytic activity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite catalyst system combining double metal cyanide with a cyclic carboxylate complexing agent, where the synergistic interaction between the metal cyanide core and the organic ligand enhances both catalytic activity and carbon dioxide selectivity
2Ease of manufacture
If zinc glutarate catalyst is used, then synthesis and treatment are easy, but catalyst activity is very low
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the metal composition parameters from zinc-based to double metal cyanide system (e.g., Co-Zn, Ni-Zn, Cu-Zn), which fundamentally alters the catalytic properties to achieve high activity while maintaining reasonable ease of synthesis through standard aqueous precipitation methods
3Ease of manufacture
If zinc glutarate catalyst is used, then synthesis is easy, but catalyst removal after polymerization is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a heterogeneous catalyst system where the active catalytic sites are localized on solid metal cyanide particles with specific surface properties, allowing easy separation from the polymer product through filtration while maintaining catalytic functionality
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The new catalyst achieves higher carbon dioxide incorporation ratios and maintains or exceeds the activity of conventional catalysts, facilitating stable polymerization of polyalkylene carbonate.
Implementation Method 1
A double metal cyanide catalyst comprising a double metal cyanide compound and a complexing agent
Implementation Method 2
a step of polymerizing an epoxide compound and carbon dioxide in the presence of the double metal cyanide catalyst
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a double metal cyanide catalyst, a method for preparing same and a method for preparing polyalkylene carbonate using the catalyst, and provides a double metal cyanide catalyst comprising a double metal cyanide compound and a complexing agent, wherein the complexing agent is represented by Formula 1, a method for preparing same and a method for preparing polyalkylene carbonate using the catalyst.