Texaco Chemical Company

Rei-Yu J Hwan

Charles J Kruse

Kyle Lee Preston

John R Cassata

Stuart J Parker

Feng-Ran Sheu

Catherine J Conkwright

An impure methyl tertiary butyl ether product contaminated with isobutylene, methanol and water is purified by continuous counter-current contact with water and isobutylene in a counter-current contact extraction tower to provide an overhead extract comprising isobutylene, methyl tertiary butyl ether and water and a raffinate comprising methanol, water and a minor amount of methyl tertiary butyl ether, the overhead raffinate being separated in a methyl tertiary butyl ether purification distillation zone into a lighter distillation fraction comprising isobutylene and water and a heavier distillation fraction consisting essentially of methyl tertiary butyl ether, the lighter distillation fraction being decanted to remove water and to provide a distillate isobutylene fraction that is charged to a surge drum from which isobutylene is returned to the contact tower.

Continuous isobutylene-assisted aqueous extraction of methanol from

An isobutylene feed mixture comprising MTBE, isobutylene and methanol is passed through an isobutylene conversion zone to form an isobutylene conversion product comprising unreacted methanol, unreacted isobutylene, dimethyl ether, MTBE and water, then charged to a countercurrent methanol extraction zone and contacting with water to provide an overhead raffinate comprising isobutylene, MTBE and water, and an extract comprising methanol, water, MTBE, isobutylene and dimethyl ether; the extract is distilled to provide a vaporized overhead fraction comprising MTBE, isobutylene, methanol, and dimethyl ether; the vaporized overhead fraction is partially condensed and from about 5 to 10 wt. % of the mixed phase condensate is vented to thereby provide a liquid condensate that is substantially free from dissolved dimethyl ether, and the condensate is recycled to the methanol extraction zone.

Method for the removal of dimethyl ether from methyl tertiary butyl ether

A method for the preparation of methyl tertiary butyl ether is provided wherein a mixture of methanol and substantially peroxides-free tertiary butyl alcohol are catalytically reacted to form a reaction product that is separated into a first lighter distillation fraction comprising isobutylene, methanol and methyl tertiary butyl ether and a second heavier distillation fraction comprising methanol, tertiary butyl alcohol and water, wherein the first distillation fraction and a first recycle isobutylene fraction are reacted to form an isobutylene conversion product that is charged, together with recycle isobutylene to a methanol extraction zone and countercurrently contacted with water to provide an overhead extract comprising aqueous isobutylene, and wherein the isobutylene is recovered and recycled.

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Rei-Yu J Hwan