Patent ID: 7378540
Filing Date: 2008-05-27
Classification: B01J,C07C,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A process of the production of diaryl carbonate comprising: (a) a plurality of reaction zones comprising a primary and a secondary reaction zone; (b) supplying to said primary reaction zone a dialkyl carbonate and an aromatic hydroxy compound; (c) maintaining the primary reaction zone under dual phase and reaction conditions conducive for the formation of alkyl aryl carbonate; (d) transesterifying the dialkyl carbonate with the aromatic hydroxy compound in the presence of a solid catalyst selected from the group consisting of two to four elements from Group IV, V and VI of the Periodic Table supported on porous material which have surface hydroxyl groups; (e) recovering a dual phase product stream from the primary reaction zone; (f) seperating the dual phase product stream from (e) to recover vaporous alkyl alcohol and liquid alkyl aryl carbonate; (g) maintaining the secondary reaction zone under dual phase and reaction conditions conducive for the disproportionation of alkyl aryl carbonate to diaryl carbonate; (h) disproportionating the alkyl aryl carbonate in the presence of a solid catalyst selected from the group consisting of two to four elements from Group IV, V and VI of the Periodic Table on porous material which have surface hydroxyl groups; (i) recovering a dual phase product stream from the secondary reaction zone; and (j) seperating the dual phase product stream from (i) to recover a vaporous component comprising aryl alkyl carbonate and liquid product comprising diaryl carbonate.