One suggestion for sequestering CO2 is to synthesize carbonate polymers. Polycarbonate is well known for its strength and transparency. To gauge the feasibility of this approach, consider the synthesis of dimethyl carbonate (DMC) from methanol and CO2 at 350 K.
(a) Write a balanced stoichiometric equation for this reaction. Highlight any by-products.
(b) Estimate the Ka value for the reaction. What pressure is required to achieve P·Ka = 0.1? (c) Methanol and DMC are both liquids at this temperature. Explain how to estimate their partial pressures at a given extent of conversion. You may neglect the CO2 in the liquid for this question.
