Kinetics of the liquid-phase synthesis of ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE)

Journal Article · Tue Mar 01 00:00:00 EST 1994 · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ie00027a015· OSTI ID:7207833

Fite, C; Iborra, M; Tejero, J; Izquierdo, J F; Cunill, F ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Barcelona (Spain). Chemical Engineering Dept.

The liquid-phase addition of ethanol to isobutene to give ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) on the ion exchange resin Lewatit K2631 has been studied. Rate data were obtained free of mass transfer influence in a continuous differential reactor operated at 1.6 MPa and 40--90 C, measuring steady-state conversions <10% for ethanol-isobutene and ethanol-isobutene-ETBE feeds. The reaction is highly temperature-sensitive. Isobutene has an enhancing effect on the rate whereas ethanol has an inhibitor one. Besides, low ETBE concentrations enhance the reaction but as chemical equilibrium is approached the ether shows an inhibitor effect, as expected. As alcohol-olefin-ether mixtures behave nonideally, kinetic analysis has been performed by using the UNIFAC liquid-phase activities of isobutene, ethanol, and ETBE. The best kinetic model stems from an Eley-Rideal mechanism in which the ethanol, adsorbed on one center, reacts with the isobutene from solution to give the ether adsorbed on one center. Surface reaction is the rate-limiting step. Two additional centers take part in this step.

• OSTI ID: 7207833
• Journal Information: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States), Vol. 33:3; ISSN 0888-5885
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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