Process for the hydration of mixed butenes to produce mixed alcohols

US9593059B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY · SA

Inventors

• Wei Xu · Greenbelt, US
• Farhan M. Al-Shahrani · Dhahran, SA
• Abdennour Bourane · Ras Tanura, SA
• Stephan Ralf Vogel · Zofingen, CH

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 9, 2012
• Grant date: Mar 14, 2017
• Expiry date: Feb 11, 2032

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C10L1/1852
• WIPO field: Basic materials chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Mixed butenes from a cracking process, or raffmates of MTBE or tert-butyl alcohol (TBA), are simultaneously hydrated using water in the presence of a catalyst to produce sec-butyl alcohol (SBA) and tert-butyl alcohol as the principal products, the mixed butanols having utility as fuel additives, e.g., as oxygenates and octane enhancers to replace MTBE, and as a neat fuel.