The invention relates to a composition comprising a titanium or zirconium alkoxide or aryloxide, wherein the alkoxy group in the titanium or zirconium alkoxide is a group of formula R-0.sup.− wherein R is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms and the aryloxy group in the titanium or zirconium aryloxide is a group of formula Ar-0.sup.− wherein Ar is an aryl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, and wherein the composition additionally comprises 0.1 to 50 wt. % of an organic carbonate, based on the total weight of the composition. Further, the invention relates to a process for preparing such composition, comprising blending such titanium or zirconium alkoxide or aryloxide with an organic carbonate in such amounts that the resulting composition comprises 0.1 to 50 wt. % of the organic carbonate, based on the total weight of the composition. Still further, the invention relates to a process for preparing an aromatic carbonate, such as a diaryl carbonate, using said composition comprising a titanium or zirconium alkoxide or aryloxide; and to a process for making a polycarbonate from the diaryl carbonate thus prepared.

In an embodiment, a method for producing an aryl alkyl carbonate can comprise: reacting methanol with a diaryl carbonate in the presence of a catalyst to form a mixture comprising an aryl alkyl carbonate and a hydroxy compound, wherein the methanol is in an acetone monomer mixture comprising acetone and at least one of diaryl carbonate and dihydroxy compound; separating the aryl alkyl carbonate from the mixture.

In an embodiment, a method for producing an aryl alkyl carbonate can comprise: reacting methanol with a diaryl carbonate in the presence of a catalyst to form a mixture comprising an aryl alkyl carbonate and a hydroxy compound, wherein the methanol is in an acetone monomer mixture comprising acetone and at least one of diaryl carbonate and dihydroxy compound; separating the aryl alkyl carbonate from the mixture.

In an embodiment, a method for producing an aryl alkyl carbonate can comprise: reacting methanol with a diaryl carbonate in the presence of a catalyst to form a mixture comprising an aryl alkyl carbonate and a hydroxy compound, wherein the methanol is in an acetone monomer mixture comprising acetone and at least one of diaryl carbonate and dihydroxy compound; separating the aryl alkyl carbonate from the mixture.

A process for purifying a diaryl carbonate, comprises introducing an aqueous stream to a diaryl carbonate stream that comprises a metal contaminant, wherein the aqueous stream reacts with the metal contaminant to form a precipitate; wherein introducing the aqueous stream to the diaryl carbonate stream results in introducing 100 to 10,000 ppm water based on the total composition of the diaryl carbonate stream and the aqueous stream; removing the precipitate via one or both of a separation column and a filter to result in a purified diaryl carbonate.

A process for purifying a diaryl carbonate, comprises introducing an aqueous stream to a diaryl carbonate stream that comprises a metal contaminant, wherein the aqueous stream reacts with the metal contaminant to form a precipitate; wherein introducing the aqueous stream to the diaryl carbonate stream results in introducing 100 to 10,000 ppm water based on the total composition of the diaryl carbonate stream and the aqueous stream; removing the precipitate via one or both of a separation column and a filter to result in a purified diaryl carbonate.

The invention relates to a process for drying a catalyst carrier or drying a catalyst comprising a carrier on which a metal is supported, wherein the carrier or catalyst is contacted with a drying agent which comprises an organic carbonate. Further, the invention relates to a process for preparing a catalyst which comprises a carrier on which a metal is supported, said process comprising drying the carrier by contacting the carrier with a drying agent which comprises an organic carbonate resulting in a dried carrier; and impregnating the dried carrier with a solution wherein a compound containing the metal is dissolved in a solvent which is an organic carbonate or an alcohol. Still further, the invention relates to a process for preparing an aromatic carbonate, such as a diaryl carbonate, using the catalyst thus prepared or dried; and to a process for making a polycarbonate from the diaryl carbonate thus prepared.

The invention relates to a process for drying a catalyst carrier or drying a catalyst comprising a carrier on which a metal is supported, wherein the carrier or catalyst is contacted with a drying agent which comprises an organic carbonate. Further, the invention relates to a process for preparing a catalyst which comprises a carrier on which a metal is supported, said process comprising drying the carrier by contacting the carrier with a drying agent which comprises an organic carbonate resulting in a dried carrier; and impregnating the dried carrier with a solution wherein a compound containing the metal is dissolved in a solvent which is an organic carbonate or an alcohol. Still further, the invention relates to a process for preparing an aromatic carbonate, such as a diaryl carbonate, using the catalyst thus prepared or dried; and to a process for making a polycarbonate from the diaryl carbonate thus prepared.

The invention relates to a process for drying a catalyst carrier or drying a catalyst comprising a carrier on which a metal is supported, wherein the carrier or catalyst is contacted with a drying agent which comprises an organic carbonate. Further, the invention relates to a process for preparing a catalyst which comprises a carrier on which a metal is supported, said process comprising drying the carrier by contacting the carrier with a drying agent which comprises an organic carbonate resulting in a dried carrier; and impregnating the dried carrier with a solution wherein a compound containing the metal is dissolved in a solvent which is an organic carbonate or an alcohol. Still further, the invention relates to a process for preparing an aromatic carbonate, such as a diaryl carbonate, using the catalyst thus prepared or dried; and to a process for making a polycarbonate from the diaryl carbonate thus prepared.

A method for preparing an aromatic carbonate, of the present invention, comprises the steps of: (A) preparing a reaction mixture containing an aliphatic carbonate by reacting an organometallic compound and carbon dioxide; and (B) preparing an aromatic carbonate by reacting the reaction mixture and an aromatic alcohol. The method for preparing an aromatic carbonate allows an aromatic carbonate to be economically prepared in a high yield by using carbon dioxide as a carbonyl supply source.