Isobutanol → Isopropyl tert-butyl ether

Participants

Reaction Steps

In the etherification stage, isobutene is reacted with alcohols, preferably with isobutanol, over an acidic catalyst, preferably over an acidic ion exchanger, to give ethers, preferably isobutyl tert-butyl ether. According to one embodiment of the invention, the reaction is carried out in a three-stage reactor cascade, in which the reaction mixture flows through flooded fixed-bed catalysts from top to bottom. In the first reactor the inlet temperature is 0 to 60° C., preferably 10 to 50° C.; the outlet temperature is between 25 and 85° C., preferably between 35 and 75° C., and the pressure is 2 to 50 bar, preferably 3 to 20 bar. At a ratio of isobutanol to isobutene of from 0.8 to 2.0, preferably 1.0 to 1.5, the conversion is between 70 and 90%.

Provenance & Evidence