Modelling of the phase behaviour for the direct synthesis of dimethyl carbonate from CO2 and methanol at supercritical or near critical conditions

This study is focused on modelling the phase equilibrium behaviour of the reaction mixture (CO2 + methanol + DMC + H2O) at high pressure–temperature conditions using the Patel–Teja (PT) and Peng–Robinson–Stryjek–Vera (PRSV) equations of state along with the van der Waals One-Fluid (1PVDW) mixing rule. The optimum values of the binary interaction parameters (kij) were calculated from VLE data found in the literature, and then adjusted to a lineal temperature equation. As a result, the temperature-dependent model was applied to predict the fluid phase equilibria of the corresponding binary a ternary sub-systems and, later, successfully contrasted with experimental data. In addition, phase equilibrium data were experimentally measured at high pressure (8 MPa to 15 MPa) for the ternary system (CO2 + methanol + DMC), in order to confirm the ability of the model to predict the phase behaviour of the ternary system at high pressure–temperature. The agreement between the experimental data and the proposed model enables to predict the phase equilibrium behaviour of the mixture (CO2 + methanol + DMC + H2O), and thus, optimise the operation conditions in several reaction and separation processes.