Towards Environmentally Sustainable Production of Diphenyl Carbonate: Comparative Analysis of Alternative Pathways
Journal
34th European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering / 15th International Symposium on Process Systems Engineering
Series/Report No.
Computer Aided Chemical Engineering
Journal Volume
53
Start Page
2059
End Page
2064
ISSN
1570-7946
ISBN (of the container)
9780443288241
ISBN
9780443288241
Date Issued
2024-01
Author(s)
DOI
10.1016/B978-0-443-28824-1.50344-6
Abstract
Diphenyl carbonate (DPC) plays a key role as a feedstock in the synthesis of polycarbonate (PC), a widely used plastic material. However, conventional DPC production routes are burdened by environmental concerns stemming from the use of toxic reagents, such as phosgene. Considering the urge to foster sustainability, this study undertakes a comprehensive evaluation of cradle-to-gate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with diverse industrial pathways for DPC synthesis, including: 1. Direct phosgenation of phenol (PhOH) as the base case. 2. Transesterification of CO2-based dimethyl carbonate (DMC) to yield DPC. 3. Transesterification of CO2-based diethyl carbonate (DEC) to yield DPC. 4. Transesterification of CO2-based dipropyl carbonate (DPrC) to yield DPC. While the emission inventory data of the first two pathways were extracted from comprehensive commercial reports, the latter two were simulated in Aspen Plus according to patented approaches due to limited process data availability. The simulations serve as a foundation for comparative analysis among these routes. Notably, the alternative pathways leverage CO2-derived carbonates as feedstock, offering greener alternatives to the conventional approach. Through cradle-to-gate GHG emissions assessment, this research aids in identifying the potentially most environmentally benign alternative route for DPC production. An analysis of alternative feedstocks contributes to the assessment of current developments and potential pathways towards emission-free DPC production. The central aim of this study is to leverage industry insights to propose optimal pathways for future development, guiding towards a carbon-neutral paradigm in PC manufacturing.
Subjects
CO2 conversion
Cradle-to-gate emissions
Diphenyl carbonate production
Sustainable manufacturing
Publisher
Elsevier
Type
book part