Fibrous phosphosilicate with highly dispersed poly(ionic liquids) as a nanocatalyst for production of biopolymer from limonene epoxide and CO2

Abstract

In this study, we developed nano accelerators with a broad range by utilizing the interaction between tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and tripolyphosphate (TPP), followed by attaching poly(ionic liquids) to the click-modified ligand of fibrous phosphosilicate (FPS). This process led to the uniform distribution of poly(ionic liquids) without any aggregation, forming PILs-FPS. This material was then applied as a green catalyst for producing cyclic carbonate from limonene epoxide and CO₂ under eco-friendly conditions. Subsequently, we synthesized a polymer from the natural cyclic carbonate obtained. The reaction between CO₂ and highly substituted epoxides from sustainable sources like waste limonene produced novel bio-based cyclic carbonates. The reaction took place under mild, solvent-free conditions using PILs-FPS as the catalyst. The fibrous FPS structures enhanced adsorption capacity and facilitated the recovery of the catalyst without significant loss of activity. The products were easily separated from the environmentally conscious setting, and the catalyst was reused multiple times without a notable decrease in performance or selectivity.