Synthesis of dimethyl carbonate by gas-phase oxidative carbonylation of methanol on the supported solid catalyst - I. Catalyst preparation and catalytic properties

The gas-phase synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from methanol, carbon monoxide and oxygen has been studied in a flow system at atmospheric pressure. A series of catalysts have been prepared and their reactivity has been evaluated. The influence of the activated carbon (a.c.) supports, the alkaline metal promoters and the operation conditions on DMC synthesis reaction has been investigated and discussed. Under the conditions of 130 degrees C, CO/O-2=1.96, SV=3340 h(-1), the space-time yield (STY) of DMC over PdCl2-CuCl2-CH3COOK/a.c. catalyst is 217 g/l-cat h, which is higher than the results published in the literature so far. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.