Dialkyl carbonates: scale-up synthesis and application as green solvents for PVDF membranes preparation

Dialkyl carbonates (DACs) are well-known green solvents and reagents that have been extensively investigated as safe alternatives to chlorine-based compounds. o We have developed a high yielding scale-up synthesis of non-commercially available or expensive DACs via transcarbonylation reactions of an alcohol with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) promoted by the nitrogen-based organocatalyst TBD; o DACs were produced in large scale (up to 100 mL), purification has been achieved by fractional distillation and the exceeding reagents have been recovered and recycled; o Chemical-physical properties of the new DACs have been also evaluated, as well as their water solubility, biodegradability and cytotoxicity; o DACs were employed as green solvents for membrane preparation, using phase separation techniques (NIPS and VIPS), achieving both porous and plain membranes. Membrane proprieties were compared with those obtained using commercially available cyclic carbonates (ethylene carbonate - EC and propylene carbonate - PC). o Morphology, additives effect, physical-chemical and mechanical proprieties as well as their performances in terms of water permeability and rejection were evaluate