Revisiting the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate from methanol and carbon dioxide

Abstract The process for producing dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and methanol is explored in this article. It provides an overview of the thermodynamics involved in DMC synthesis, discussing the challenges and potential solutions. The article highlights the reported use of catalysts and dehydrating agents to improve DMC yield and selectivity. Thermodynamic analysis shows that the reaction is strongly limited thermodynamically over a large range of operating conditions, both in the gaseous and liquid phases. The various methods proposed in literature to circumvent this limitation are discussed and those with realistic potential for large scale implementation are identified and compared.