PROCESS FOR WORKING UP THE LIQUID REACTION PRODUCTS FROM THE CU-CATALYSED PREPARATION OF DIMETHYL CARBONATE

摘要

A process is described for working up liquid reaction mixtures such as are formed during dimethyl carbonate preparation by oxidative carbonylation of methanol in the presence of a copper-containing catalyst, which process permits a simple separation of the water of reaction from the dimethyl carbonate. In this process, in a first distillation column, the water of reaction is taken from the bottom of the column; the top product from the first column is separated in a second column, under increased pressure, into dimethyl carbonate as bottom product and into a top product which is predominantly composed of methanol. The top product from the distillative working-up in the second column, which is predominantly composed of methanol, is recycled to the reaction process.