Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing an alkanol impurity from a stream containing an organic carbonate and the alkanol impurity, comprising contacting the stream with a catalyst to effect reaction of the alkanol impurity with the organic carbonate.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for producing an alkylaryl carbonate comprising: a) contacting a stream comprising an aromatic hydroxy compound and a stream comprising a dialkylcarbonate in a reactive distillation column containing a bed of heterogeneous transesterification catalyst, the bed having a top and a bottom; and b) withdrawing a product stream comprising the alkylaryl carbonate from the reactive distillation column wherein the aromatic hydroxy compound is fed to the column at a first feed point located above the top of the catalyst bed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing an alkanol impurity from a stream containing an organic carbonate and the alkanol impurity, comprising contacting the stream with a catalyst to effect reaction of the alkanol impurity with the organic carbonate.

Abstract: A diesel fuel formulation is provided containing (i) a fatty acid alkyl ester (FAAE), in particular a fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), (ii) diethyl carbonate (DEC) and (iii) an additional diesel fuel component. Also provided is a diesel fuel supplement containing a FAAE and DEC. The inclusion of DEC, in a FAAE or in a diesel fuel formulation containing a FAAE, increase the stability of one or more glycerides present in the FAAE, and/or reduce the concentration of a stability-enhancing additive in the FAAE or fuel formulation, and/or reduce the amount of glyceride precipitates in the FAAE or fuel formulation. The glycerides are in particular saturated monoglycerides.

Abstract: Diesel fuel formulation is provided containing (i) FAME with ?50% w/w saturates, (ii) dialkyl carbonate (DAC) and (iii) an additional diesel fuel component. Also provided is a diesel fuel supplement containing FAME and DAC, for use in a diesel fuel formulation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a diaryl carbonate from a dialkyl carbonate and an aryl alcohol using a series of reactive distillation columns.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of an alkanediol and a dialkyl carbonate comprising: (a) reacting an alkylene carbonate and an alkanol in the presence of a transesterification catalyst to obtain a reaction mixture comprising dialkyl carbonate, unconverted alkanol, alkanediol, unconverted alkylene carbonate and an alkoxy alkanol impurity; (b) subjecting the reaction mixture to distillation in a first distillation column to obtain a top stream comprising dialkyl carbonate, alkanol and alkoxy alkanol impurity and a bottom stream comprising alkanediol and alkylene carbonate; (c) subjecting the bottom stream from the first distillation column to distillation in a second distillation column to obtain a top stream comprising alkanediol and a bottom stream comprising alkylene carbonate; (d) subjecting the lop stream from the first distillation column to distillation in a third distillation column in the presence of a catalyst to effect reaction of the alkoxy alkanol impurity with the dialkyl ca

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a diaryl carbonate, which comprises: (i) contacting an aromatic non-hydroxy compound with a carboxylic acid of formula HOC(?O)R1 (I), wherein R1 is a hydrocarbyl group, and with an oxygen containing gas in the presence of a catalyst, resulting in water and an aromatic carboxylic acid ester of formula R2OC(?O)R1 (II), wherein R2 is an aryl group originating from the aromatic non-hydroxy compound; and (ii) contacting the aromatic carboxylic acid ester of formula (II) from step (i) with a dialkyl carbonate of formula R3OC(?O)OR4 (III), wherein R3 and R4 are the same or different and are alkyl groups, in the presence of a catalyst, resulting in a diaryl carbonate of formula R2OC(?O)OR2 (IV) and an alkyl carboxylic acid ester of formula R5OC(?O)R1 (V), wherein R5 is R3 or R4.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing a diaryl carbonate from a dialkyl carbonate and an aryl alcohol using a series of reactive distillation columns.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing an alkanol impurity from a stream containing a dialkyl carbonate and the alkanol impurity, comprising contacting the stream with an aryl group containing ester and a catalyst to effect reaction of the alkanol impurity with the aryl group containing ester.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for removing an alkanol impurity from a stream containing an organic carbonate and the alkanol impurity, comprising contacting the stream with a catalyst to effect reaction of the alkanol impurity with the organic carbonate.

Abstract: Fuel formulation, such as a gasoline or diesel fuel formulation, containing a dialkyl carbonate (DAC) having 6 or more carbon atoms is provided.

Abstract: A diesel fuel formulation containing (i) a lower molecular weight dialkyl carbonate (DAC) selected from dimethyl carbonate (DMC), diethyl carbonate (DEC) and mixtures thereof; (ii) di-n-butyl carbonate (DBC); and optionally (iii) an additional diesel fuel component is provided.

Abstract: Diesel fuel formulation is provided containing (i) FAME with ?50% w/w saturates, (ii) dialkyl carbonate (DAC) and (iii) an additional diesel fuel component. Also provided is a diesel fuel supplement containing FAME and DAC, for use in a diesel fuel formulation.

Abstract: A diesel fuel formulation is provided containing (i) a fatty acid alkyl ester (FAAE), in particular a fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), (ii) diethyl carbonate (DEC) and (iii) an additional diesel fuel component. Also provided is a diesel fuel supplement containing a FAAE and DEC. The inclusion of DEC, in a FAAE or in a diesel fuel formulation containing a FAAE, increase the stability of one or more glycerides present in the FAAE, and/or reduce the concentration of a stability-enhancing additive in the FAAE or fuel formulation, and/or reduce the amount of glyceride precipitates in the FAAE or fuel formulation. The glycerides are in particular saturated monoglycerides.

Abstract: An alkylene carbonate and an alkanol are subjected to transesterification to yield a dialkyl carbonate and alkanediol in a process comprising (a) introducing the alkylene carbonate and an alkanol feedstock into a reaction zone to react in the presence of a transesterification catalyst to yield an alkanediol-rich stream and a stream comprising dialkyl carbonate and alkanol, which streams are separated; (b) passing the stream comprising dialkyl carbonate and alkanol to an extractive distillation zone in which an extractant is added to the stream; (c) obtaining from the extractive distillation zone an alkanol-rich vapor stream and a bottom stream containing the extractant and the dialkyl carbonate; (d) separating the bottom stream from step (c) in a second non-extractive distillation zone to yield a dialkyl carbonate-rich top stream and a extractant-rich bottom stream; and (e) at least partly recycling the extractant-rich bottom stream to the extractive distillation zone, wherein the extractant-rich bottom str

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the preparation of a diaryl carbonate by transesterification of an aromatic alcohol with a dialkyl carbonate in the presence of a transesterification catalyst during a period of time [ta], in which the aryl moiety is selected from unsubstituted phenyl and mono-, di- and trisubstituted phenyl groups, in which the alkyl moiety is selected from C2 to C4 linear and branched alkyl groups, in which the catalyst concentration is designated [ca], expressed as gram catalyst per gram of aromatic alcohol and dialkyl carbonate, in which the period of time [tm] and catalyst concentration [cm] are determined to arrive at a pre-set approach to the equilibrium for the transesterification of the aromatic alcohol with dimethyl carbonate to methyl aryl carbonate and methanol, in which the product [ca]*ta is at least 1.5*[cm]*tm under otherwise the same reaction conditions.

Abstract: An alkanediol and a dialkyl carbonate are prepared in a process comprising: (a) reacting an alkylene carbonate and an alkanol feedstock in a reaction zone under transesterification conditions to obtain a product mixture of dialkyl carbonate, unconverted alkanol, the alkanediol, and unconverted alkylene carbonate; (b) separating dialkyl carbonate and unconverted alkanol from the product mixture to obtain a bottom product stream containing alkanediol and unconverted alkylene carbonate; (c) recovering the dialkyl carbonate; and (d) separating alkanediol from the bottom product stream to leave a recycle stream comprising unconverted alkylene carbonate, wherein the recycle stream comprising unconverted alkylene carbonate is split in at least two portions, and at least one portion is recycled to the reaction zone and another portion is subjected to hydrolysis to yield alkanediol and carbon dioxide.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing an 1,2-alkylene carbonate comprising: i) contacting carbon dioxide, an 1,2-alkylene oxide and a carbonation catalyst in a reactor to produce a crude reactor effluent containing carbon dioxide, light components, 1,2-alkylene carbonate and catalyst; ii) separating carbon dioxide and light components from the crude reactor effluent to form a bottoms stream containing 1,2-alkylene carbonate and catalyst; iii) distilling the bottoms stream formed in step (ii) to form a first distillation overhead stream containing 1,2-alkylene carbonate and a first distillation bottoms stream containing catalyst, and recycling at least part of the first distillation bottoms stream to the reactor; and iv) distilling the first distillation overhead stream to form a second distillation overhead stream and a second distillation bottoms stream containing 1,2-alkylene carbonate, and recycling at least part of the second distillation overhead stream to the reactor.

Abstract: An alkanediol and a dialkyl carbonate are prepared in a process comprising: (a) reacting an alkylene carbonate and an alkanol feedstock in a first reaction zone under transesterification conditions to obtain a product mixture of dialkyl carbonate, unconverted alkanol, the alkanediol, unconverted alkylene carbonate and dimers of the alkanediol; (b) separating dialkyl carbonate and alkanol from the product mixture to obtain a bottom product stream containing alkanediol, unconverted alkylene carbonate and dimers of the alkanediol; (c) recovering the dialkyl carbonate; and (d) separating alkanediol from the bottom product stream to leave a recycle stream comprising unconverted alkylene carbonate and dimers of the alkanediol, which process further comprises (e) passing at least part of the recycle stream to a second reaction zone in which the dimers of the alkanediol are converted to higher-boiling oligomers of alkanediol, yielding an oligomers-containing effluent; (f) separating the higher-boiling oligomers from