Continuous-Flow Glycerolysis of Urea to Glycerol Carbonate: The Critical Role of Operating Pressure

Abstract

A combined theoretical and experimental study on the carbonylation of glycerol with urea has identified low operating pressure as a key parameter for process optimization. Based on these insights, an improved multiple-pass continuous-flow system was developed, enabling the solvent-free synthesis of glycerol carbonate (GC) with enhanced efficiency. The optimized process achieved a productivity of ∼130 g/day, delivering high purity (>95%), and an isolated yield of 80%, thereby demonstrating the viability of this approach for sustainable GC production.