FIELD: chemistry.
SUBSTANCE: invention relates to a method of producing diaryl carbonate coupled with electrolysis of the formed alkali metal chloride-containing spent aqueous solutions. The method of producing diaryl carbonate and treating at least a portion of the formed alkali metal chloride-containing solution comprises the following steps: a) reacting phosgene, obtained from reacting chlorine with carbon monoxide, with at least one monophenol in the presence of a base and, optionally, in the presence of a base catalyst to form diaryl carbonate and an alkali metal chloride-containing solution, b) separating and extracting the diaryl carbonate formed at step (a), c) separating the alkali metal chloride-containing solution remaining after step (b) from solvent residue and, optionally, catalyst residue with subsequent treatment with adsorbents, wherein before treatment with adsorbents, pH of the alkali metal chloride-containing solution is set equal to or lower than 8, d) electrochemical oxidation of at least a portion of the alkali metal chloride-containing solution from step (c), which takes place with formation of chlorine, an alkali metal hydroxide solution and in the corresponding case hydrogen, wherein at least a portion of the obtained chlorine is used to produce phosgene and/or e) returning at least a portion of the alkali metal hydroxide solution obtained at step (d) to step (a) for producing diaryl carbonate, where at least a portion of the alkali metal chloride-containing solution formed at step (c) is returned to step (a).
EFFECT: along with other advantages, the disclosed method improves recycling through electrolysis of the alkali metal chloride-containing solution formed when producing diaryl carbonate.
12 cl, 4 ex
