Isobutanol → Isopropyl tert-butyl ether

Participants

Reaction Steps

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

Provenance & Evidence