Process for obtaining isobutene from a C4-hydrocarbon mixture

US12378169B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• BASF SE

Inventors

• Hans-Guenter Wagner · Havelsee, DE
• Randolph Hugo · Ludwigshafen am Rhein, DE
• Thomas Roussiere · Mannheim, DE
• Suman Thotla · Mannheim, DE
• Gerrit Waters · Karlsruhe, DE
• Michael Huebner · Houston, US
• Markus Neudert · Ludwigshafen am Rhein, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 1, 2022
• Grant date: Aug 5, 2025
• Expiry date: Apr 18, 2042

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C41/58
• WIPO field: Chemical engineering
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The invention relates to a process for obtaining isobutene from an isobutene containing C4-hydrocarbon mixture (1) in a plant comprising an etherification unit (3), a first distillation unit (5), an ether cleavage unit (8) and a second distillation unit (10), the process comprising: (a) contacting the C4-hydrocarbon mixture (1) with a primary alcohol (2) and reacting the mixture with the primary alcohol in the presence of an acidic catalyst to form the corresponding alkyl tert-butyl ether as an intermediate product and diisobutene as a by-product in the etherification unit (3); (b) distilling the reaction mixture (4) from the etherification unit (3) in the first distillation unit (5), a C4-hydrocarbon raffinate being withdrawn as the overhead product (6), the alkyl tert-butyl ether and diisobutene being withdrawn as the liquid or vaporous bottom product (7), and vaporizing the bottom product (7) if it is withdrawn as a liquid; (c) reacting the vaporous bottom product (7) in the presence of an acidic catalyst obtaining isobutene and the primary alcohol as reaction products in the ether cleavage unit (8); (d) distilling the reaction mixture (9) from the ether cleavage unit (8) in the…