Green separation of azeotropes in dimethyl carbonate synthesis by transesterification

Abstract

Dimethyl carbonate, a pivotal organic solvent, has experienced significant growth in consumption and an expansion of production capacity in China in recent years. The primary industrial production methods, including transesterification, carbonylation, and urea alcoholysis, are accompanied by dedicated production facilities. This study conducts a comparative assessment of these processes, scrutinizing their technical merits and associated challenges to provide strategic guidance for dimethyl carbonate production within the nation. The review provides a comprehensive summary of dimethyl carbonate synthesis methods. Focusing on the separation of azeotropes during dimethyl carbonate synthesis via transesterification, it suggests the potential integration of conventional energy-saving technology with pervaporation separation to separate dimethyl carbonate and methanol. The review culminates in a concise summary and analysis of forthcoming prospects and obstacles inherent to this hybrid strategy. Realizing the effective integration of pervaporation technology with established energy-saving techniques for the efficient and ecologically sustainable separation necessitates further exploration and practical implementation.