Process comprising two extractive distillation steps for the production of tertiary ethers from a C.sub.4 or C.sub.5 feedstock
US5536887A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 7, 1994 |
| Grant date | Jul 16, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 7, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC07C41/42
- WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
Process for the production of tertiary ethers (MTBE, ETBE, TAME, ETAE) in which a hydrocarbon cut (1) containing four or five carbon atoms is reacted with methanol or ethanol (2, 3) in a reactor and recovering ethers (11) and a distillate (10) after distillation (C.sub.I). The distillate undergoes a first extractive distillation step in column (C.sub.11) in the presence of a solvent (27) which is selective towards olefinic hydrocarbons. A saturated hydrocarbon-rich overhead fraction (15) is recovered along with a bottom fraction (18) which is rich in olefins, solvent and alcohol. The olefins (20) are separated from the solvent and alcohol (24) in a second extractive distillation step (C.sub.III). The olefins are isomerised in a skeletal isomerisation reactor (5) and the isomerate is recycled (2) to reactor (6). The alcohol and solvent are separated in a stripping column (C.sub.IV). Alcohol (26) is recycled to the synthesis reactor (6) while the solvent (27) is recycled to C.sub.II. The temperature at the bottom of the second column (C.sub.III) can be reduced by addition of fresh (4) or recycled (34) alcohol.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.