Catalytic and direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate starting from carbon dioxide using CeO2-ZrO2 solid solution heterogeneous catalyst:: effect of H2O removal from the reaction system

CeO2-ZrO2 solid solution catalysts are very effective in the selective synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from methanol and CO2. The methanol conversion is very low because the DMC formation is limited by the reaction equilibrium. For the removal of H2O from the reaction system, the reaction between 2,2-dimethoxy propane (DMP) and H2O can be utilized. The addition of the DMP to the reaction system of DMC synthesis from methanol and CO2 is very effective for the increase of the conversion. However, the addition of larger amounts of DMP is not suitable because of the decrease of DMC formation rate and the by-production of the dimethyl ether (DME). The combination of this selective catalyst with an effective H2O removal system can provide a novel process of selective DMC production starting from CO2 with high efficiency. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.