Breaking azeotropes by reactive adsorption: A case for sorption-enhanced dimethyl carbonate synthesis

This work investigates the direct production of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from CO2 by sorption-enhanced DMC (SEDMC) synthesis, employing modelling techniques. SEDMC synthesis is shown to be an exemplary case for reactive separation, as it enhances the reaction and simplifies downstream processing through in-situ separation. By incorporating in-situ water adsorption, SEDMC achieves significantly higher methanol conversions compared to other direct synthesis routes. Simultaneously, the formation of two azeotropes can be avoided, leading to a drastic simplification of downstream separation, requiring only one-step conventional distillation. By increasing the methanol conversion to 45%, the formation of a DMC-methanol azeotrope is prevented, and the in-situ water adsorption effectively avoids the DMC-water azeotrope. Based on these findings, further research should focus on identifying suitable materials and (reactive) adsorbents, while also incorporating a more detailed process layout and cycle design. These efforts will unlock the full potential of SEDMC synthesis in the production of renewable materials.

Automated summary

This study investigates the direct production of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from CO2 using sorption-enhanced DMC (SEDMC) synthesis. The SEDMC synthesis is shown to be an exemplary case for reactive separation, as it enhances the reaction and simplifies downstream processing. By incorporating in-situ water adsorption, SEDMC achieves significantly higher methanol conversions compared to other direct synthesis routes.