Process for producing dimethyl carbonate

Abstract

Dimethyl carbonate is prepared by means of a continuous process: * by feeding, to a reaction chamber, methanol, carbon monoxide and oxygen, to a liquid reaction mixture with substantially constant composition and volume, containing methanol, dimethyl carbonate, water, and a copper catalyst; * vaporizing from the reaction mixture a stream of methanol, water and dimethyl carbonate, which is developed together with the carbonmonoxide-containing gas stream; and * recovering water and dimethyl carbonate from said vaporized mixture, in amounts substantially equal to the respective amounts thereof which are formed in the reaction chamber and recycling the other components. The process, which is essentially characterized in that in the liquid reaction mixture a methanol concentration and a water concentration are maintained which are respectively equal to, or higher than, 30% by weight, and equal to, or lower than, 10% by weight, makes it possible dimethyl carbonate to be obtained with an improved productivity.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.