Abstract: The invention relates to a process for obtaining isobutene from an isobutene containing C4-hydrocarbon mixture (1) in a plant comprising an etherification unit (3), a first distillation unit (5), an ether cleavage unit (8) and a second distillation unit (10), the process comprising: (a) contacting the C4-hydrocarbon mixture (1) with a primary alcohol (2) and reacting the mixture with the primary alcohol in the presence of an acidic catalyst to form the corresponding alkyl tert-butyl ether as an intermediate product and diisobutene as a by-product in the etherification unit (3); (b) distilling the reaction mixture (4) from the etherification unit (3) in the first distillation unit (5), a C4-hydrocarbon raffinate being withdrawn as the overhead product (6), the alkyl tert-butyl ether and diisobutene being withdrawn as the liquid or vaporous bottom product (7), and vaporizing the bottom product (7) if it is withdrawn as a liquid; (c) reacting the vaporous bottom product (7) in the presence of an acidic catalyst

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for starting up a plant for removing isobutene from an isobutene-containing C4-hydrocarbon mixture, the plant comprising an etherification unit containing moist acidic ion exchange resin, a first distillation unit, an ether cleavage unit, and a second distillation unit. The invention further relates to a process for shutting down the plant from a stationary operation mode.