METHODS FOR PRODUCING ETHYLENE GLYCOL AND DIPHENYL CARBONATE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method by which thermal energy required for a process for forming diphenyl carbonate from dimethyl carbonate is inexpensively supplied in a method for producing the diphenyl carbonate by reacting ethylene oxide with carbon dioxide to give ethylene carbonate, reacting the ethylene carbonate with methanol to give the dimethyl carbonate and reacting the dimethyl carbonate with phenol to give the diphenyl carbonate. SOLUTION: Heat of reaction in the process for producing ethylene oxide from ethylene is recovered as high-pressure steam and the high-pressure steam is supplied to the process for forming the diphenyl carbonate from the dimethyl carbonate. COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO