Reaction extraction of alkyl carbonate

An extraction reaction process for reacting feedstocks comprising alkylene carbonate and alkanol to form reaction products comprising alkyl carbonate and alkylene glycol at a yield in excess of the equilibrium yield of such reaction products with respect to such feedstocks, comprising the steps of:

• reacting said feedstocks comprising alkylene carbonate and alkanol in a reaction vessel at reaction conditions in the presence of a catalyst for producing said reaction products comprising alkyl carbonate and alkylene glycol;
• and
• substantially concurrently with said reacting step and within said reaction vessel, contacting said feedstocks comprising alkylene carbonate and alkanol and said reaction products comprising alkyl carbonate and alkylene glycol with a hydrocarbon solvent, selective for extracting alkyl carbonate from said reaction zone thereby increasing the yield of said reaction products comprising alkyl carbonate and alkylene glycol with respect to said feedstocks comprising alkylene carbonate and alkanol to in excess of their equilibrium yield;
• wherein said hydrocarbon solvent comprises a distribution coefficient with respect to said alkyl carbonate that is substantially different than the distribution coefficient of the hydrocarbon solvent with respect to said alkanol;
• and
• wherein said hydrocarbon solvent forms a first mixture comprising a substantial portion of alkyl carbonate thereby defining a second mixture comprising at least one member selected from the group consisting of alkylene glycol, alkylene carbonate, and alkanol and said first and second mixtures have substantially different specific gravities.