Published May 2005
In 2001, we presented PEP Review 98-10 on Ube’s technology for the production of diphenyl carbonate from phenol via diphenyl oxalate, which in turn is prepared from dimethyl oxalate. The latter is prepared from methanol via methyl nitrite by reaction with nitric oxide followed by carbonylation of the intermediate. There has been some improvement in the operation of this process over the years to warrant revisit to this process. In this review, we modify the process presented in our previous review based on Ube’s current patent pertaining to this technology.
This Review renews a technoeconomic evaluation of this improved technology, based on available public information. Also presented is economic comparison between the present process and those of two other DPC processes – DPC from phenol by direct phosgenation, and DPC from DMC by carbonylation. We conclude that the present process requires capital investment, which is comparable with the other two DPC processes within the accuracy of the present study. Similar conclusion applied to the production costs. It appears that the improvement in this process does provide the Ube technology with competitive position against the other two processes.
