Process for the purification of diphenyl carbonate

A process for the purification of diphenyl carbonate by crystallization from crude products of diphenyl carbonate production which have elevated d-phenyl carbonate contents of above 70 wt. %, relative to the distillable fraction, by fractionating melt crystallization, comprising cooling the melt to be purified in the range from 85.degree. to 45.degree. C. at a cooling rate of 20.degree. to 0.1.degree. C./h, a holding time of 0 to 100 minutes, and is maintained at the lowest coolant temperature before separation of the residual melt, and the crystallized product is then melted by heating at a heating rate of 20.degree. to 0.1.degree. C./h to a final temperature of 70.degree. to 80.degree. C. and, during heating, further fractions of the melt with impurities are separated at pauses or without interruption of heating from the pure diphenyl carbonate melt arising at a higher temperature.