An algae cultivation medium includes a growth medium and at least one of an amine additive and a water-soluble biomimetic catalyst. A related method of increasing carbon shuttling in an algae cultivation medium includes adding at least one of the amine additive and the water-soluble biomimetic catalyst to the algae cultivation medium.

The present invention relates to catalyst composition for cyclic carbonate production from CO.sub.2 and epoxides under mild conditions, which can effectively catalyze the cyclic carbonate synthesis and provides good selectivity to cyclic carbonate, wherein said catalyst composition comprising: a) the metal complex as shown in structure (I):

##STR00001## wherein, M represents transition metal atom; R.sub.1, R.sub.2, and R.sub.3 represent independent group selected from hydrogen atom, halogen atom, alkyl group, alkenyl group, alkynyl group, alkoxy group, amine group, phenyl group, benzyl group, cyclic hydrocarbon group comprising hetero atom, perfluoroalkyl group, or nitro group; R.sub.4 represents group selected from alkylene group, cycloalkylene group, or phenylene group; X represents group selected from hydrogen atom, acetate group, or triflate group; and b) the organic compound as the co-catalyst selected from compound containing nitrogen, compound of quaternary ammonium salts, or compound of iminium salts.

A method for synthesizing an aliphatic polyester block copolymer regulated by carbon monoxide. The method uses an organic cobalt metal complex as a convertible catalyst and includes: first regulating an anionic ring-opening copolymerization reaction between an aliphatic acid anhydride and an epoxy compound; then using carbon monoxide as a conversion agent for conversion to obtain a catalyst having a new catalytic active site; and regulating a vinyl monomer to perform active free radical polymerization to obtain an aliphatic polyester block copolymer having a controllable structure. The described synthesis method uses a convertible catalyst and a conversion agent, combines two controllable polymerization reactions which have different but compatible mechanisms, and obtains a block copolymer by means of a “one-pot” reaction.

A method for synthesizing an aliphatic polyester block copolymer regulated by carbon monoxide. The method uses an organic cobalt metal complex as a convertible catalyst and includes: first regulating an anionic ring-opening copolymerization reaction between an aliphatic acid anhydride and an epoxy compound; then using carbon monoxide as a conversion agent for conversion to obtain a catalyst having a new catalytic active site; and regulating a vinyl monomer to perform active free radical polymerization to obtain an aliphatic polyester block copolymer having a controllable structure. The described synthesis method uses a convertible catalyst and a conversion agent, combines two controllable polymerization reactions which have different but compatible mechanisms, and obtains a block copolymer by means of a “one-pot” reaction.

The present disclosure relates to block copolymers comprising, and methods of making thereof, a polycarbonate chain linked to a hydrophilic polymer. Such block copolymers may have the formula B-A-B, where A is a polycarbonate or polyethercarbonate chain and B is a polyether. Provided methods are useful in reducing the amount of waste generated from the synthesis of polycarbonates and provide improved thermal stability and high primary hydroxyl content. Provided block copolymers also have utility as additives in enhanced oil recovery methods, and foam polymer applications.

A transition metal-based heterogeneous carbonylation reaction catalyst has an excellent catalytic activity and selectivity in the carbonylation reaction and is easily separated from a product, by crosslinking polymerizing a transition metal-based homogeneous catalyst unit through a Friedel-Craft reaction. The catalyst may be used in a method for preparing lactone. The transition metal-based heterogeneous carbonylation reaction catalyst allows to produce lactone or succinic anhydride with an epoxide compound while showing a high selectivity, and can be applied in industrial very usefully due to easy separation from the product and thus reusing thereof.

A catalyst and a method for preparing S-indoxacarb using the catalyst. The catalyst is prepared using 3-tert-butyl-5-(chloromethyl)salicylaldehyde and cyclohexanediamine as raw materials, where an original quinine catalyst such as cinchonine is replaced with the catalyst for application in the asymmetric synthesis of tert-butyl hydroperoxide and 5-chloro-2-methoxycarbonyl-1-indanone ester, greatly improving selection in the asymmetric synthesis process, with the S-enantiomer content increasing from 75% to over 98%, achieving the recycling of a high-efficiency chiral catalyst, and greatly reducing production costs. The synthesis process of the catalyst is simple and is favorable for industrialization, and lays good foundations for the production of high-quality indoxacarb.

Provided are catalysts, methods of making catalysts, methods of using catalysts, and copolymers made utilizing the catalysts. The catalyst has a metal salen complex group, a bridging group, and one or more co-catalyst groups. The metal salen complex group is attached to the bridging group and the bridging group is attached to the co-catalyst group. The copolymers made utilizing the catalysts are polyesters or polycarbonates.

Provided is a catalyst for transesterification reactions, which contains an iron salen complex. Also provided is a method for producing an ester compound, which is characterized by carrying out a transesterification reaction between a starting material ester and a starting material alcohol with use of the catalyst.

A catalyst which can catalyze ring-addition reaction of CO.sub.2 and an alkylene oxide at 0˜180° C. under 0.1˜8.0 MPa to produce a corresponding cyclic carbonate, and the preparation thereof. The catalyst is a conjugated microporous macromolecule polymer complexed with cobalt, chromium, zinc, copper or aluminium, and by using the macromolecule catalyst complexed with different metals to catalyze the reaction of CO.sub.2 and alkylene oxide at normal temperature and normal pressure, a yield of the corresponding cyclic carbonate of 35%˜90% can be obtained. The catalyst is easy to recover and the re-use of the catalyst has no influence on the yield; additionally, the yield can reach over 90% by controlling the reaction conditions.