Patent ID: 7314947
Filing Date: 2008-01-01
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. A process for the production of dimethyl carbonate comprising the steps of: (a) feeding a stream containing urea, methanol, water and ammonium carbamate to a first distillation column reactor: (b) concurrently in said first distillation column reactor, (c) removing ammonia, carbon dioxide and methanol from said first distillation column reactor as a first overheads; (d) removing urea and methyl carbamate from said distillation column reactor as a first bottoms; (e) feeding said first bottoms and methanol to a second distillation column reactor; (f) concurrently in said second distillation column reactor, (g) removing dimethyl carbonate and methanol from said second distillation column reactor as a second overheads; (h) removing homogeneous catalyst from said second distillation column reactor as a second bottoms; (i) separating the dimethyl carbonate from the methanol in said second overheads by extractive distillation; and (j) feeding a first portion of said second bottoms to said first distillation column reactor; (k) feeding a second portion of said second bottoms to a third distillation column reactor where the catalyst is regenerated and cleaned up of heavies; and (l) recycling a third portion of said second bottoms to said second distillation column reactor.