IN357584: An improved process for preparing dimethyl carbonate

The patent discloses an improved process for producing dimethyl carbonate comprising reacting methanol with carbon dioxide (CO2) in presence of a ceria-metal oxide solid solution catalyst of "spindle shape" morphology having molecular formula: Ce1-xMxO2-d where, the value of x is in the range of 0.05-0.8 and d is in the range of 0 to 0.8 and a water trapping agent selected from the group of molecular sieves or nitrile group containing compound. Further, it discloses a process for the preparation of the said catalyst.