Abstract:

To achieve the target of the efficient, green, safe and energy saving synthesis of dimethyl carbonate, a combined reaction system with energy saving is proposed for synthesis of dimethyl carbonate, methylal and dimethyl ether from methanol. Thermodynamics of single reaction and the complex system is analyzed by Aspen Plus software. The results show that there is thermodynamic equilibrium limit for the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate from methanol in gas phase, to improve significantly equilibrium concentration of dimethyl carbonate higher reaction pressure and lower reaction temperature is necessary, even so, large amount of unreacted methanol must be recycled which consume a lot of energy. When synthesis of dimethyl carbonate is combined with methylal and dimethyl ether synthesis, the equilibrium conversion of methanol can be improved observably from 0.5%—5.9% to 91.7%—96.3%. Based on the thermodynamic calculations and kinetics of these reactions, a series process of three catalytic reactors are proposed for synthesis of dimethyl carbonate, methylal and dimethyl ether in order, and the system including reaction and separation processes is simulated. The results show that the mixture of methylal and dimethyl carbonate can be separated by simple distillation and the separation of dimethyl carbonate-H₂O azeotrpoe need to employ pressure swing distillation. Mass concentration of three products can be reached above 99%. The process proposed could effectively solve the problems as follows: recycle of large amount un-reacted materials, high energy consumption, easy explosion and so on, which exist in the process for detached production of dimethyl carbonate and methylal.

Key words: dimethyl carbonate, methylal, dimethyl ether, simulation, production, chemical processes

摘要：

围绕碳酸二甲酯的高效、绿色、安全、节能合成目标,构建了联合生产碳酸二甲酯、甲缩醛和二甲醚反应体系及节能工艺。借助Aspen Plus软件对独立反应及复杂体系进行了热力学分析。由结果可知,升高反应压力或降低温度可明显提高碳酸二甲酯的平衡组成;与甲缩醛和二甲醚合成工艺相耦合后,可大幅提升甲醇平衡转化率,由0.5%~5.9%提高到91.7%~96.3%。根据热力学计算结果和动力学因素,提出顺序生产碳酸二甲酯、甲缩醛和二甲醚的串联催化反应器工艺。甲缩醛和二甲醚的分离采用简单精馏方式,碳酸二甲酯和水共沸物的分离采用变压精馏,3种产品的质量浓度均可达到99%以上。可有效解决单独生产碳酸二甲酯和甲缩醛生产中原料循环量大、能耗高和易爆炸等缺陷。

关键词: 碳酸二甲酯, 甲缩醛, 二甲醚, 模拟, 生产, 化学过程