Claims
- 1. A method of producing a carbonic ester by allowing methanol to react with carbon monoxide and oxygen in a liquid phase to provide the corresponding dimethyl carbonate which comprises
- supplying continuously the reactants and a catalyst to a reactor wherein a reactor liquid phase and a reactor vapor phase are obtained,
- subjecting at least a portion of said reactor vapor phase gas to gas-liquid separation to obtain a condensable gas fraction and a non-condensable gas fraction,
- controlling the temperature of the reaction within the range of about 100.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. by recycling at least a portion of said non-condensable gas fraction to said reactor liquid phase and sparging said reactor liquid phase with said portion of recycled non-condensable gas fraction, wherein the flow rate of the recycled gas is regulated within the range of 0.5 to 5 Nm.sup.3 /H per liter of the reaction mixture, and
- withdrawing continuously an amount of the reactor liquid phase to adjust the liquid level in the reactor.
- 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the oxygen and carbon monoxide are supplied in admixture with at least one inert gas, and said non-condensable gas fraction contains not less than 25% by volume of inert gas.
- 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the portion of said non-condensable gas fraction recycled to said reactor liquid phase for sparging contains 0.1 to 10% by volume of oxygen, 0.1 to 20% by volume of carbon monoxide, and 70 to 99% by volume of inert gas.
- 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said reaction is conducted in the presence of a palladium or copper catalyst.
- 5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said method further comprises compressing at least a portion of said non-condensable gas fraction and said non-condensable fraction contains not less than 25% by volume of an inert gas.
- 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said method further comprises controlling the flow rate of the recycled gas with a feedback controller.
- 7. The method according to claim 5, wherein said method only a portion of the compressed and non-condensable gas fraction is recycled to said reactor liquid phase, and at least a portion of the remaining compressed and non-condensable gas fraction is recycled to a gas withdrawal line in communication with said reactor vapor phase.
- 8. The method according to claim 5, wherein said method further comprises storing the non-condensable gas before recycling all or a portion thereof to said reactor liquid phase.
- 9. The method according to claim 5, wherein the amount and rate of withdrawal of the portion of the reactor liquid phase is such that the amount of dimethyl carbonate withdrawn is substantially equal to the amount thereof formed in the reactor.
- 10. A method for producing dimethyl carbonate in a reactor by allowing methanol to react with oxygen and carbon monoxide in a liquid phase which comprises
- supplying continuously (i) carbon monoxide, oxygen and at least one inert gas, wherein the oxygen is present in an amount sufficient to have an oxygen partial pressure of that of 0.05 to 10 kg/cm.sup.2 relative to the gases supplied, and the total concentration of the oxygen and carbon monoxide is less than 40% by volume relative to the gases supplied, (ii) a catalyst containing a main component, said main component containing a metal selected from the group consisting of copper and palladium, and (iii) methanol to said reactor whereby a reaction mixture having a reactor liquid phase and a reactor vapor phase is obtained,
- condensing a portion of said reactor vapor phase to form a condensable fraction and non-condensable fraction wherein the condension comprises cooling said portion of said reactor vapor to a temperature of about -10.degree. C. to 50.degree. C.;
- recycling at least a portion of said non-condensable fraction to said reactor and sparging reactor liquid phase with said recycled portion,
- controlling the temperature of said reaction within the range of about 100.degree. C. to about 150.degree. C. by regulating the flow rate of the recycled non-condensible fraction of about 0.5 to 5 Nm.sup.3 /H per liter of said reaction mixture, and
- adjusting the liquid level of said reactor by withdrawing continuously an amount of the reactor liquid phase,
- wherein said reaction is conducted at a pressure of about 5 to 50 kg/cm.sup.2.
- 11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the carbon monoxide is supplied in an amount sufficient to have a carbon monoxide partial pressure of about 0.5 to 5 kg/cm.sup.2.
- 12. A method according to claim 10, wherein the carbon monoxide is supplied in an amount sufficient to have a carbon monoxide partial pressure of about 0.5 to 47 kg/cm.sup.2.
- 13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the oxygen is supplied in an amount sufficient to have an oxygen partial pressure of about 0.05 to 5 kg/cm.sup.2.
- 14. A method according to claim 10, wherein said catalyst contains at least one palladium-containing main component wherein the palladium-containing main component is present in a concentration of 0.0001 to 0.1 mol/liter.
Priority Claims (1)
Number |
Date |
Country |
Kind |
4-245750 |
Aug 1992 |
JPX |
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Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of Application Ser. No. 08/108,421, filed on Aug. 19, 1993, now abandoned.
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Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
108421 |
Aug 1993 |
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