Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Economics of new MTBE design

Journal Article · · Hydrocarbon Process.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6962874
Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) is produced industrially by catalytic reaction between methanol and isobutene. The catalyst that is widely used is an acidic ion exchange resin. This article explores design and economics when sulfuric acid is the catalyst. The profitability of MTBE production depends mainly on the cost of butenes and methhanol. Thus, the example shows MTBE made with a catalyst of sulfuric acid was profitable at a Saudi Arabian location, even though it was not profitable at a U.S. Gulf Coast location.
Research Organization:
King Fahd Univ. of Petroleum and Minerals, Dhahran (SA)
OSTI ID:
6962874
Journal Information:
Hydrocarbon Process.; (United States), Journal Name: Hydrocarbon Process.; (United States) Vol. 67:7; ISSN HYPRA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English