A　novel　energy　saving　procedure　for　the　synthesis　and　separation　of　dimethyl　carbonate　by　reactive　distillation　is　proposed,　and　its　principle　technical　feasibility　is　demonstrated　based　on　the　physical　properties　of　a　dimethyl　carbonate　synthesis　system.　The　steady-state　simulation　is　performed　with　Aspen　Plus,　and　the　UNIQUAC-RK　model　is　used　in　this　work.　The　simulation　result　shows　that　the　novel　procedure　can　simplify　the　process　and　reduce　energy　consumption.　The　new　procedure　can　save　energy　costs　by　29.50%　compared　with　the　traditional　processes.　For　further　energy　consumption　reduction,　heat　integrations　between　the　low-pressure　column　and　the　high-pressure　column　are　adopted.　It　is　found　that　energy　savings　of　53.80%　are　achieved　for　this　novel　process.　The　total　annual　costs　of　the　four　procedures　are　estimated　and　compared.　It　is　shown　that　costs　can　be　reduced　by　more　than　31.54%　by　using　the　new　processes.　To　sum　up,　the　new　procedure　has　a　better　economic　investment　than　the　original.　©　2014　American　Chemical　Society.