Patent ID: 6583325
Filing Date: 2003-06-24
Classification: B01D,C07C,Y02P

Abstract:
A process for the production of tertiary ethers comprising the steps of:(a) feeding a stream comprising a C5-6 stream containing isoolefins and C1-C6 alcohol to a first distillation column reactor containing a first bed of etherification catalyst in a first distillation reaction zone; (b) concurrently in said first distillation column reactor (i) reacting a portion of the isoolefins with a portion of the methanol to form a tertiary ether, and (ii) separating the tertiary ether product from unreacted isoolefins and unreacted methanol by fractional distillation; (c) withdrawing the tertiary ether product from the first distillation column reactor as a first bottoms; (d) withdrawing the unreacted isoolefins and unreacted methanol from the first distillation column reactor as a first overheads; (e) feeding the first overheads and a C4 stream containing isobutene to a second distillation column reactor containing a second bed of etherification catalyst in a second distillation reaction zone; (f) concurrently in said second distillation column reactor (i) reacting more of the unreacted isoolefins and said isobutene with more of the unreacted alcohol to form additional tertiary ether, and (ii) separating the additional tertiary ether product from unreacted isoolefins and unreacted methanol by fractional distillation; (g) withdrawing the additional tertiary ether product from the second distillation column reactor as a second bottoms; (h) withdrawing the unreacted isoolefins and unreacted alcohol from the second distillation column reactor as a second overheads.