Catalytic and direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate starting from carbon dioxide using CeO 2-ZrO 2 solid solution heterogeneous catalyst: effect of H 2O removal from the reaction system

Abstract

CeO 2-ZrO 2 solid solution catalysts are very effective in the selective synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from methanol and CO 2. The methanol conversion is very low because the DMC formation is limited by the reaction equilibrium. For the removal of H 2O from the reaction system, the reaction between 2,2-dimethoxy propane (DMP) and H 2O can be utilized. The addition of the DMP to the reaction system of DMC synthesis from methanol and CO 2 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 H 2O removal system can provide a novel process of selective DMC production starting from CO 2 with high efficiency.