Oxidized Biochar as a Simple, Renewable Catalyst for the Production of Cyclic Carbonates from Carbon Dioxide and Epoxides

Abstract

Abstract Hard‐ and softwood residues (from birch and pine respectively) of forestry, pulp, and paper industries (e. g. sawdust, branches) were used to prepare biochar, which was then oxidized using nitric acid to produce catalytic carboxylic acid functionalized biochar. This oxidized biochar, ox – bc , in the presence of a co‐catalyst, showed excellent catalytic activity towards the cycloaddition reaction between CO 2 and epoxides using mild conditions (CO 2 pressure, 10 bar). No differences in catalytic activity were seen between the two types of oxidized biochar despite the hardwood ox – bc having a significantly higher surface area. The catalysts function through activation of the epoxide reagent via hydrogen‐bonding with carboxylic acid groups on the surface. The number of surface acid groups was reduced by reaction with 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane and the resulting material was inactive in the reactions studied. The ox – bc catalysts are sustainable, economic, and renewable alternatives for currently used heterogeneous systems and are also the first carbon‐based materials derived from biomass to exhibit good recyclability (over five runs) with a broad substrate scope for the production of cyclic carbonates from epoxides and CO 2 .