Process for preparing dialkyl carbonates

US8552214B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Bayer MaterialScience AG · DE

Inventors

• Pieter Ooms · Krefeld, DE
• Friedhelm Risse · Hanerau-Hademarschen, DE
• Andre Düx · Bogen, DE
• Carsten Buchaly · Mülheim an der Ruhr, DE
• Thomas Pancur · Altenholz, DE
• Arthur Susanto
• Georg Ronge · Mülheim an der Ruhr, DE
• Johan Vanden Eynde · Zwijnaarde, BE
• Wim Wuytack · Zele, BE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 1, 2011
• Grant date: Oct 8, 2013
• Expiry date: Apr 11, 2031

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/10
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to a continuous process for preparing lower dialkyl carbonates as main product and alkylene glycol as by-product by transesterification of a cyclic alkylene carbonate (e.g. ethylene carbonate or propylene carbonate) with lower alkyl alcohols in the presence of a catalyst and also the required purification of the dialkyl carbonate in a subsequent process step. To optimize the economics and energy efficiency of the process, additional devices are used for intermediate heating of the liquid streams in the apparatus.