Patent ID: 6166266
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: C07C,Y02P

Abstract:
A process for the catalytic production of a mixture of oxygenated organic compounds suitable as a blending component of fuel for use in compression ignition internal combustion engines, which process comprises providing a source of formaldehyde formed by the conversion of methanol in the presence of a catalyst comprising oxides of molybdenum as an essential catalyst component; and contacting the source of formaldehyde and a predominately dimethyl ether feedstream with a condensation promoting catalyst capable of hydrating dimethyl ether, in a form which is heterogeneous to the feedstream, under conditions of reaction sufficient to form an effluent of condensation mixture comprising water, methanol, formaldehyde, dimethyl ether, one or more polyoxymethylene dimethyl ethers having a structure represented by the formulaCH.sub.3 O(CH.sub.2 O).sub.n CH.sub.3where n is a number from 1 to about 10.