Kinetics of dimethyl carbonate synthesis from ethylene carbonate and methanol using alkalimetal compounds as catalysts

Abstract

Dimethyl carbonate (DMC) was synthesized by the ester exchange reaction of ethylene carbonate and methanol. K2CO3, KOH, LiOH and NaOH were used as catalysts for DMC synthesis and their catalytic abilities were compared in terms of kinetics. LiOH showed the best reaction rate among the catalysts. The rate constant was estimated to be 0.02538 (dm(3)/mol)(0.21)/min at 298 K.