Dimethyl Carbonate: Review of Synthesis Routes and Catalysts Used

Kirtika Kohli, Brajendra K. Sharma and Chandrakant B. Panchal
Additional contact information
Kirtika Kohli: Prairie Research Institute−Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
Brajendra K. Sharma: Prairie Research Institute−Illinois Sustainable Technology Center, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, IL 61820, USA
Chandrakant B. Panchal: E3Tec Service LLC, Hoffman Estates, IL 60192, USA

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 14, 1-30

Abstract: This review summarizes the performance of potential catalysts for the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) using CO 2 as a feedstock by two major processes—the direct route of carbonylation of alcohols and the indirect route of alcoholysis of urea. The reaction mechanisms and corresponding catalysts that were previously investigated are discussed. The major challenges associated with the conversion of CO 2 to DMC are the low yields, low DMC selectivity, and thermodynamic limitations (alcohol carbonylation) of reversible reactions with low equilibrium constants. This occurs mainly due to the highly stable carbon dioxide molecules. The development of novel catalysts with high yields and high selectivity needs to be studied to overcome these technical challenges. In addition, to enhance the DMC yield, the use of dehydrating agents for water removal from the reaction mixture is recommended and discussed in detail in this article. This review critically examines the different catalysts used by investigators, along with their respective operating conditions and suitability in applications for the commercial synthesis of CO 2 -based DMC.

Keywords: dimethyl carbonate; direct conversion from CO 2; urea alcoholysis; heterogeneous catalysis; homogenous catalysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/14/5133/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/15/14/5133/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:14:p:5133-:d:863092

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().