It is an object of the present invention to provide a specific process
that enables aromatic carbonates to be produced with high selectivity and
high productivity stably for a prolonged period of time on an industrial
scale of not less than 1 ton per hour from a dialkyl carbonate and an
aromatic monohydroxy compound using two continuous multi-stage
distillation columns. Although there have been various proposals
regarding processes for the production of aromatic carbonates by means of
a reactive distillation method, these have all been on a small scale and
short operating time laboratory level, and there have been no disclosures
whatsoever on a specific process or apparatus enabling mass production on
an industrial scale. According to the present invention, there are
provided two specified continuous multi-stage distillation columns, and
there is also provided a specific process that enables aromatic
carbonates to be produced with high selectivity and high productivity
stably for a prolonged period of time on an industrial scale of not less
than 1 ton per hour from a dialkyl carbonate and an aromatic monohydroxy
compound using a apparatus in which these two continuous multi-stage
distillation columns are connected together.