Effect of water presence on methyl tert-butyl ether and ethyl tert-butyl ether liquid-phase syntheses

Journal Article · Mon Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1993 · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ie00015a020· OSTI ID:6554923

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

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1. Univ. of Barcelona (Spain)

Equilibrium constants for the liquid-phase synthesis of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) were determined experimentally in the temperature range 40-80 C, using an initial water percentage range in the alcohol of 1.4-5 wt%. The initial molar alcohol-isobutylene ratio varied from 0.8 to 1.44. Both systems behave nonideally, and the equilibrium constants found agree with those determined without initial water quoted in the literature. In experimental kinetic runs performed at 40 C, ETBE and MTBE production rates are strongly lowered by the initial water presence. This inhibitor effect disappears as water is converted into tert-butyl alcohol (TBA). The TBA equilibrium is reached faster than those of the ethers, and the residual water is rather small.

• OSTI ID: 6554923
• Journal Information: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States), Journal Name: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research; (United States) Vol. 32:3; ISSN IECRED; ISSN 0888-5885
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
100200* -- Synthetic Fuels-- Production-- (1990-)
ADDITIVES
ALCOHOLS
ALKENES
BUTANOLS
BUTENES
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
ETHERS
FUEL ADDITIVES
FUELS
GASOLINE
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
INHIBITION
KINETICS
LIQUID FUELS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
REACTION KINETICS
SYNTHESIS
WATER