Process for the simultaneous manufacture of pure MTBE and a substantially isobutene-free mixture of C.sub.4 -hydrocarbons

US4282389A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Chemische Werke Huels, A.G. · DE

Inventors

• Wilhelm Droste · Marl, DE
• Fritz Obenaus · Marl, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 4, 1979
• Grant date: Aug 4, 1981
• Expiry date: Dec 4, 1999

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C7/14891
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A process for the simultaneous manufacture of pure methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and a substantially isotubene-free mixture of C.sub.4 -hydrocarbons, by reacting the isobutene contained in the mixture of C.sub.4 -hydrocarbons with excess methanol in the liquid phase at elevated temperatures on strongly acid, macroporous, organic ion exchange resins. The process has the following steps: PA0 (a) methanol and isobutene are reacted in a molar ratio of 2:1 to 5:1 at temperatures between 30.degree. and 100.degree. C.; PA0 (b) the unconverted hydrocarbons are then removed as the top product under a pressure of 2 to 10 bars from a first rectification column; PA0 (c) the bottom product from this first column is rectified in a second column under normal pressure or under a slight excess pressure of up to 2 bars at the top of the column, the bottom product of this rectification is recycled to reaction zone (a), if necessary, after separating off a portion of the tertiary butanol formed and the C.sub.8 -olefins; and PA0 (d) the distillate from this second column is rectified in a third rectification column under a pressure of 5 to 30 bars, the distillate thus obtained is recycled into the…