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Guizhou Qianxi Chemical: Commissioning of 12,000 tons/year dimethyl carbonate purification unit / Author/Source: Sinochem News Network / Date: 2019-08-16 / Clicks: 31. On August 15, the 12,000 tons/year dimethyl carbonate (DMC) purification unit at Qianxi Chemical completed its internal purging and began formal commissioning testing. Dimethyl carbonate is a chemically useful material with low toxicity and excellent environmental properties. It finds wide-ranging applications, and its use as a methylation agent offers significant advantages; it meets the requirements of modern clean production processes and is regarded as a green product, thus holding great market prospects. The project commenced in September 2018; it is a technical upgrade project aimed at addressing the shortcomings of Qianxi Chemical. Tianjin University provided the process package, while Donghua Guizhou Company was responsible for the design work. In the coal-based ethylene glycol production process, within the dimethyl oxalate (DMO) synthesis reactor, in addition to the main reaction that produces DMO, a side reaction that generates dimethyl carbonate (DMC) also occurs. In a distillation system, dimethyl carbonate can be separated using a separation tower, but the concentration of the resulting dimethyl carbonate is only 62.35%, with 28.83% methanol present as well. If these by-products are sold directly, their price is only 1,500 yuan per ton. The added value of the by-products cannot be realized, and it also leads to an increase in methanol consumption by the system, thereby raising the production costs of ethylene glycol. In order to increase the added value of its products, Qianxi Chemical decided to purify the dimethyl carbonate that is produced as a by-product. The purified dimethyl carbonate (DMC) can meet the standards for high-quality products, while methanol can also be recovered, thereby reducing the consumption of methanol in the system and the production costs associated with ethylene glycol. It is understood that once put into operation, this facility will be able to produce 12,000 tons per year of high-quality dimethyl carbonate (DMC), as well as recover 5,000 tons per year of methanol. The selling price can reach 5,000 yuan per ton, and the added value of the product increases. This device requires only a one-time investment, no catalyst is needed, and it offers significant economic benefits.