CATALYSTS AND METHODS FOR MAKING CYCLIC CARBONATES

1 . A catalyst comprising:

at least one polymer quaternary ammonium salt;

at least one metal halide; and

silica gel.

2 . The catalyst of claim 1 , wherein:

the at least one polymer quaternary ammonium salt is polydimethyl diallyl ammonium bromide, polydimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride or combination thereof; or the at least one metal halide is ZnBr 2 , ZnCl 2 , FeCl 3 , AlCl 3 , NaCl, CaCl 2 , Zn(OAc) 2 , LiBr or a combination thereof.

3 . (canceled)

4 . (canceled)

5 . The catalyst of claim 1 , wherein:

a mass ratio of the metal halide to a total mass comprising the polymer quaternary ammonium salt, the metal halide, and the silica gel, is about 1:200 to about 1:100;

a molar ratio of the polymer quarternary ammonium salt to the metal halide is about 2:1; or

a mass ratio of the polymer quarternary ammonium salt to the silica gel is about 1:20 to about 1:5.

6 . (canceled)

7 . (canceled)

8 . A method of making a catalyst, the method comprising:

incubating a first mixture comprising at least one polymer quaternary ammonium salt, at least one metal halide and a solvent;

adding silica gel to the first mixture to form a second mixture;

incubating the second mixture; and

removing the solvent from the second mixture to obtain the catalyst.

9 . (canceled)

10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising grinding the catalyst to obtain a powdered form of the catalyst.

11 . (canceled)

12 . (canceled)

13 . (canceled)

14 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising mixing an organic solvent with water to form the solvent before incubating the first mixture.

15 . (canceled)

16 . (canceled)

17 . (canceled)

18 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the at least one polymer quaternary ammonium salt is present in the first mixture at a concentration of at least about 0.01 g/ml or equal to or less than about 0.05 g/ml.

19 . (canceled)

20 . (canceled)

21 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the polymer quaternary ammonium salt is polydimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride, polydimethyl diallyl ammonium bromide, or a combination thereof.

22 . (canceled)

23 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the metal halide is present in the first mixture at a concentration of at least about 0.010 g/ml or less than or equal to about 0.025 g/ml.

24 . (canceled)

25 . (canceled)

26 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the metal halide is ZnBr 2 , ZnCl 2 , FeCl 3 , AlCl 3 , NaCl, CaCl 2 , Zn(OAc) 2 LiBr, or any combination thereof.

27 . (canceled)

28 . (canceled)

29 . (canceled)

30 . The method of claim 8 , wherein polymer quaternary ammonium salt and the metal halide are present in the first mixture at a molar ratio of at least about 1:4 or less than or equal to about 4:1.

31 . (canceled)

32 . (canceled)

33 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the silica gel is present in the second mixture at a concentration of at least about 0.05 g/ml or less than or equal to about 0.25 g/ml.

34 . (canceled)

35 . (canceled)

36 . (canceled)

37 . (canceled)

38 . (canceled)

39 . (canceled)

40 . (canceled)

41 . (canceled)

42 . The method of claim 8 , wherein removing the solvent from the second mixture comprises aspirating the second mixture.

43 . (canceled)

44 . (canceled)

45 . A method of making cyclic carbonate, the method comprising:

providing a catalyst, comprising:

at least one polymer quaternary ammonium salt;

at least one metal halide; and

silica gel;

forming a mixture comprising the catalyst and an epoxide; and

contacting the mixture with carbon dioxide in a reactor under conditions to form the cyclic carbonate.

46 . (canceled)

47 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the reactor has a non-stick lining on at least an inner surface of the reactor.

48 . (canceled)

49 . (canceled)

50 . The method of claim 45 , wherein reactor is a pressure reactor.

51 . (canceled)

52 . (canceled)

53 . (canceled)

54 . (canceled)

55 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the catalyst is present in the mixture at an amount of at least about 5% by weight or less than or equal to about 20% by weight.

56 . (canceled)

57 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the epoxide is present in the mixture at an amount of at least about 85% by weight or equal to or less than about 95% by weight.

58 . (canceled)

59 . (canceled)

60 . (canceled)

61 . The method of claim 45 , further comprising adding carbon dioxide into the reactor to displace air in the reactor before the contacting step.

62 . (canceled)

63 . (canceled)

64 . (canceled)

65 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the carbon dioxide in the contacting step is added by a carbon dioxide high pressure pump.

66 . The method of claim 45 , wherein the contacting step comprises heating to a temperature of at least about 70° C. or equal to or less than about 150° C.

67 . (canceled)

68 . (canceled)

69 . (canceled)

70 . (canceled)

71 . The method of claim 45 , further comprising removing unreacted carbon dioxide after the contacting step.

72 . (canceled)

73 . (canceled)

74 . (canceled)

75 . The method of claim 45 , further comprising separating the cyclic carbonate from the mixture after the contacting step.

76 . The method of claim 75 , wherein separating the cyclic carbonate from the mixture comprises adding an extraction solvent to dissolve the epoxide and thus separate the cyclic carbonate from the mixture.

77 . (canceled)

78 . The method of claim 76 , further comprising recovering the catalyst from the mixture.

79 . The method of claim 78 , wherein the recovering step comprises subjecting the mixture to at least one of ultrasonic cleaning and centrifuging to separate unreacted epoxide from the catalyst.

80 . The method of claim 78 , further comprising washing the catalyst with a washing solvent.

81 . (canceled)

82 . The method of claim 80 , further comprising drying the catalyst.

83 . (canceled)

84 . (canceled)

85 . (canceled)

86 . (canceled)

87 . (canceled)