Abstract: In the reaction of methanol and of i-butene which is contained in a hydrocarbon mixture on an acid cation exchange material to give methyl tert.-butyl ether (MTBE), methanol and i-butene can be used in essentially equimolar amounts if simultaneously to the distillative separation of the etherification mixture into its constituents this etherification mixture is passed into a secondary reaction. To do this, the etherification mixture is fed into a distillation column and from above the feed-in point a liquid distillate stream is taken off and passed in a secondary reactor over an acid cation exchange material. The mixture leaving the secondary reactor is returned below its take-off point.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for producing methyl tert.-butyl ether wherein n-butane is isomerized to isobutane which is then catalytically dehydrogenated to form an isobutane/isobutene mixture, while natural gas is reformed to form synthesis gas containing CO and H.sub.2 which is in turn converted to methanol, the resulting methanol and isobutene in the isobutane/isobutene mixture being etherified to form methyl tert.-butyl ether. Isobutane is then separated from the resulting etherification mixture and is recycled to the dehydrogenation stage.

Abstract: MTBE is recovered from an ether containing effluent by fractionation. When driers are not used on the hydrocarbon feed to MTBE manufacture, a separate water-methanol phase occurs in the fractionation overhead which is separately processed in a methanol fractionator and the water recovered is used to water wash the separated hydrocarbon phase from the overhead while methanol is recycled to MTBE and when driers are used on the hydrocarbon feed a separate methanol phase occurs in the fractionation overhead which can be recycled to MTBE manufacture and the hydrocarbon phase is directly passed to a drier preceding alkylation.

Abstract: Introduction of undesirable materials through liquid containing vessels of an ether forming unit into an alkylation unit is prevented by pressurizing one or more of these liquid containing vessels of the ether forming unit with a gas which is compatible with both the ether forming reaction and the alkylation reaction and which has a boiling point to keep it in essentially the gas phase in the pressurized vessel and to keep it in the liquid or dissolved form in the overhead accumulator associated with the fractionator of the alkylation unit (if said gas is present in the accumulator at all).

Abstract: A process for the synthesis of glycol monomethylethers consisting of reacting an olefin compound, methanol and hydrogen peroxide in aqueous solution in the presence of synthetic zeolites containing titanium atoms, of general formula:xTiO.sub.2.(1-x)SiO.sub.2,where x lies between 0.0001 and 0.04.

Abstract: A process for preparing tertiary alkyl ethers from isoolefins and aliphatic alcohols in the presence of a catalyst in the form of sulphonated styrene-divinylbenzene resins, characterized in that both the reaction leading to the formation of the tert-alkyl ether and the separation of the tert-alkyl ether from the hydrocarbons and compounds which accompany it take place in a single plate fractionating apparatus, in which some of the plates are provided with beds of catalyst in the form of spherules suitable for preparing said tert-alkyl ether, the ether obtained being withdrawn as a substantially pure bottom product.

Abstract: An integrated process for producing ethers, such as methyl tertiary butyl ether, is disclosed. Specific undesired compounds such as water, methanol or the product ether are removed from a hydrocarbon recycle stream withdrawn from the etherification zone by contacting the recycle stream with a solid regenerable sorbent. Preferably, the sorbent does not remove mono- or diolefinic hydrocarbons from the recycle stream. The treated recycle stream is preferably fractionated to yield isobutane passed into a dehydrogenation zone and normal butane which is charged to a butane isomerization zone.

Abstract: Methanol is reacted with branched monoolefins such as isobutylene, or mixtures of hydrocarbons such as mixed C-4's from or in a refinery, in the presence of methanesulfonic acid. A column (10) operation is described wherein methanesulfonic acid (11) and methanol (12) are fed in countercurrent fashion to hydrocarbons (13). Crude product ether is removed as a liquid sidestream (25) above the feed of methanesulfonic acid (11), while hydrocarbons depleted of the reactive branched monoolefins (24) are removed overhead. The methanesulfonic acid suppresses the vapor pressure of methanol relative to product ether.

Abstract: A process for isolating isobutene from C.sub.4 -hydrocarbon mixtures containing isobutene by reacting the mixture with a primary alcohol in the presence of an acid condensing agent, to form the tertiary ether, separating off the unconverted hydrocarbons and decomposing the tertiary ether in the presence of an acid catalyst at an elevated temperature, wherein a primary C.sub.3 - or C.sub.4 -alcohol is used and the temperature at which the reaction mixture leaves the etherification stage, in which the tertiary ether is formed, is lower than the mean temperature in the etherification stage.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for regenerating adsorbents used in an integrated process for the production of ethers such as methyl tertiary butyl ether by the reaction of an alcohol with an isoolefin. The sorbents are used to remove such compounds as the product ether and the feed alcohol from a hydrocarbon recycle stream withdrawn from the etherification zone. The regeneration procedure includes contacting the sorbent with a portion of the treated hydrocarbon stream. The resultant contaminated hydrocarbon stream is passed into a stripping column used to remove light ends from the effluent of a dehydrogenation zone in which the isoolefin fed to the etherification zone is produced. The hydrocarbonaceous compounds collected on the sorbent are thus recycled rather than being destroyed or lost in low purity effluent streams. The contaminated hydrocarbon stream may also be passed directly into the etherification zone.

Abstract: The fractionation of the methanol- or ethanol-containing methyl-(or ethyl)-tertiary-butyl ether reactor effluent is improved by employing 2-methylpentane to azeotrope methanol or ethanol overhead, or by using 1,1,3-trichloro-1,2,2-trifluoroethane (F113) to azeotrope methanol overhead, leaving a substantially pure MTBE or ETBE bottoms.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process is disclosed which may be used to produce high purity isobutylene and/or tertiary butyl alcohol and methyl tertiary butyl ether. A mixed C.sub.4 feed stream is divided into two portions with a first portion being passed through a hydration zone to produce the tertiary butyl alcohol. The remaining hydrocarbons withdrawn from the hydration zone and the second portion of the feed stream are changed to an etherification zone. The unconverted hydrocarbons exiting the etherification zone may be subjected to isomerization and/or dehydrogenation to produce additional isobutylene. The high purity isobutylene is obtained by dehydrating the tertiary butyl alcohol.

Abstract: Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), a high-octane blending agent for motor fuels, is prepared in high yield by the process which comprises reacting isobutylene and methanol in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of at least one heterogeneous catalyst selected from the group consisting of boron phosphate, blue tungsten oxide and crystalline aluminosilicate zeolite having a silica to alumina mole ratio of at least about 12:1 and a constraint index of from 1 to about 12.

Abstract: A hydrocarbon conversion process which net high purity isobutane feed streams into two product streams containing an ether such as methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) by reaction with methanol or ethanol. The isobutylene, alcohol and a recycle stream containing C.sub.4 hydrocarbons, alcohol and the product ether are passed through an etherification zone. The total etherification zone effluent stream is separated in a single fractionation column. Preferably the new overhead of the fractionation column is divided into the recycle stream and a second portion which is combined with a portion of the bottoms of this column to produce a gasoline grade MTBE product stream. The remainder of the fractionation column bottoms is a second product stream of chemical grade MTBE.

Abstract: Pure tert.-olefins are prepared from mixtures of hydrocarbons, which contain at least one such tert.-olefin, by reaction with an alkanol to give the corresponding alkyl tert.-alkyl ethers, and subsequent cleavage of these ethers back to the corresponding pure tert.-olefins and the alkanol, and the separation of the pure tert.-olefin from the alkanol. For this, the alkanol present after the cleavage of the ether is separated from the tert.-olefin to the extent of 60 to 99% by weight by distillation, and the residual amount of alcohol in the olefin fraction is removed by adsorption from this fraction onto a synthetic ion exchanger as an absorber resin. The admixture of the alkanol to the mixture of hydrocarbons with at least one tert.-olefin is carried out partly by using the alkanol fraction arising from the separating off of the pure tert.-olefin, and partly by desorption of the alkanol from the absorber resin with the aid of the mixture of hydrocarbons containing at least 1 tert.-olefin.

Abstract: A process for producing sec-butanol and sec-butyl tert-butyl ether from butane comprises: (a) partially isomerizing n-butane to produce a mixture of n-butane and isobutane; (b) catalytically dehydrogenating said butanes to produce a mixture containing at least butene-1, isobutene and butadiene; (c) selectively hydrogenating butadiene and converting butene-1 to butene-2; (d) etherifying isobutene contained in the dehydrogenation reaction mixture with sec-butanol to form a mixture of sec-butyl tert-butyl ether and unreacted hydrocarbons; (e) converting butene-2 from the unreacted hydrocarbon mixture by hydration to produce sec-butanol; (f) recycling said sec-butanol to the etherification step; recovering said sec-butyl tert-butyl ether.

Abstract: A process for continuously preparing methyl tertiary-butyl ether with high yield involves reacting an isobutylene-containing/hydrocarbon and methanol by continuously passing the isobutylene and methanol, in a molar ratio of isobutylene to methanol of 1 to 0.6-1.4 at a temperature of 60.degree.-100.degree. C. at a liquid space velocity of 0.1-50 l/hour and at a pressure of 1-50 atmospheres, through a first reactor filled with strong acid type cation exchange resin particles having an average particle diameter of 0.2-10 mm; dividing the mixture of the reaction products in two streams, the flow rate of the first stream being 3-15 times the flow rate of the second stream; recycling the first stream to the first reactor; passing the second stream, at a temperature of 20.degree.-55.degree. C. at a liquid space velocity of 0.1-50 l/hour and at a pressure of 1-50 atmospheres, through a second reactor filled with strong acid type cation exchange resin particles having an average particle diameter of 0.

Abstract: A process for producing isopropyl alcohol and isopropyl tert-butyl ether from a mixture of light hydrocarbons containing propane and butane, comprises:(a) separating from the mixture of light hydrocarbons a propane fraction and a butane fraction containing at least n-butane;(b) isomerizing at least a portion of the n-butane in the butane fraction from step (a) whereby a hydrocarbon mixture containing at least n-butane and isobutane is formed;(c) catalytically dehydrogenating the isobutane in the hydrocarbon mixture from step (b) whereby a hydrocarbon mixture containing at least isobutene is produced;(d) catalytically dehydrogenating the propane in the propane fraction from step (a) whereby a hydrocarbon mixture containing at least propene is produced;(e) reacting the propene in the hydrocarbon mixture from step (d) with water, whereby a mixture containing hydrocarbons and isopropyl alcohol is formed;(f) reacting the isopropyl alcohol from step (e) with at least part of the isobutene in the hydrocarbon mixture

Abstract: A petroleum distillate feed is upgraded and an olefinic product is produced by contacting the feed with ZSM-5-type zeolite at (1) a temperature in the 500.degree. F.-800.degree. F. range; (2) a pressure below about 13 atmospheres gauge; and (3) an LHSV in the 0.1-15 V/V/Hr range.

Abstract: A fuel for a carburetor type engine consisting essentially of isobutene oligomers and methyl tert.-butyl ether, said fuel prepared by a process comprising:(a) in a first step contacting a mixture of straight chain and branched butanes and butenes with an acid catalyst whereby to oligomerize 50% to 90% by weight of the isobutene contained therein:(b) contacting the reaction mixture from step (a) with at least a molar amount of methanol, relative to the residual isobutene, in the presence of an acid catalyst; and(c) separating off from the reaction mixture unreacted butanes and butenes.

Abstract: In a process for preparing an ether having a tertiary alkyl group by the reaction of a primary or secondary alcohol with the tertiary olefin in a tertiary olefin-containing mixed hydrocarbon, said reaction is carried out in the presence of an adduct of the starting alcohol with a heteropoly acid or salt thereof containing at least one member selected from the group consisting of P, Si, B, Ge, As, Se, Ti, Zr, Mn, F, U, Ce and Th as a central element, at least Mo and/or W as a coordinating element and at least one member selected from the group consisting of H, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, NR.sup.4 R.sup.5 R.sup.6 R.sup.7 wherein R.sup.4, R.sup.5, R.sup.6 and R.sup.7 are hydrogen atoms or alkyl groups, Mg, Ca, Ba, Zr, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Mi, Cu, Ag, Zn, Cd, Hg, Al, Pb and Bi as cations, the ratio of the number of the coordinating elements to the number of the central elements being 2.

Abstract: An improved process for preparing .beta.-(sec-alkoxy) ethanol which comprises reacting an olefin with ethylene glycol in the presence of a sulfuric acid or benzenesulfonic acid catalyst and sufficient sulfolane or alkyl-substituted sulfolane solvent to provide a one phase reaction medium, extracting the reaction products with an alkane and recovering the .beta.-(sec-alkoxy) ethanol product from the alkane extract.

Abstract: Butenes are added to the methanol-containing methyl-tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) reactor effluent fractionation to effect recovery of substantially methanol-free MTBE bottoms product. Methanol analysis taken below the fractionator feed locus manipulates control of butenes addition. In an embodiment, the methanol-butenes-containing overhead stream from the fractionation is treated over activated alumina to adsorb methanol, yielding a methanol-free butenes feed for HF alkylation of isobutane. The used adsorbent can be regenerated using hot butenes product and/or MTBE reactor feed vapor with the recovered methanol being recycled to the MTBE reaction.

Abstract: Process for producing ethers by reacting a catalytic cracking C.sub.4 olefinic cut which may contain such impurities as NaOH, an alkanolamine, an alkaline earth metal compound or an iron, copper or lead compound, with an alcohol, in the liquid phase, in the presence of an expanded bed of an etherification solid catalyst of the sulfonic resin type in acid form, in a circuit of two or more successive reaction zones wherethrough the order of passage of the reactants is periodically modified by disconnecting the first zone from the circuit, feeding the reactants to the second zone, replacing the catalyst of the first zone with fresh catalyst and thereafter connecting said first zone at the end of the circuit.

Abstract: An unsaturated C.sub.5 fraction comprising at least 10% of a mixture (A) of 2-methyl-1-butene with 2-methyl-2-butene and optionally isoprene and at least 10% of a mixture (B) of other mono-olefins and diolefins is hydrogenated under controlled conditions and thereafter etherified with an alcohol having from 1 to 4 carbon atoms. A gasoline fraction of high motor octane number and low olefin content is thus obtained.

Abstract: A method for conducting chemical reactions and fractionation of the reaction mixture comprising feeding reactants to a distillation column reactor into a feed zone and concurrently contacting the reactants with a fixed bed catalytic packing to concurrently carry out the reaction and fractionate the reaction mixture.For example, a method for preparing methyl tertiary butyl ether in high purity from a mixed feed stream of isobutene and normal butene comprising feeding the mixed feed stream to a distillation column reactor into a feed zone at the lower end of a distillation reaction zone, and methanol into the upper end of said distillation reaction zone, which is packed with a properly supported cationic ion exchange resin, contacting the C.sub.4 feed and methanol with the catalytic distillation packing to react methanol and isobutene, and concurrently fractionating the ether from the column below the catalytic zone and removing normal butene overhead above the catalytic zone.

Abstract: A gasoline blending stock is produced by the simultaneous reaction of a hydrocarbon feed containing at least one tertiary olefin, at least one aliphatic alcohol, and water over a suitable catalyst. In a typical embodiment, a mixed C.sub.4 stream containing isobutylene is reacted with aqueous ethanol to form a mixture of ethyl tertiary butyl ether and tertiary butanol, with minimal formation of secondary alcohols from any normal butenes present in the hydrocarbon feed.

Abstract: In a process for the preparation of an alkyl tert.-alkyl ether by reaction of an isoolefin branched at the double bond and an alkanol in the presence of a cation exchanger, the improvement which comprises:(a) Employing as the cation exchanger a macroporous or gelatinous acid cation exchanger in the H.sup.+ form which has been charged with 0.1 to 5 grams, per one liter of dry cation exchanger, of an elementary form of a metal of sub-groups VI, VII or VIII of the periodic table of elements (Mendeleev) which cation exchanger is crosslinked with the degree of crosslinking of 2 to 65% and has a specific surface area of 5 to 750 square meters per gram on the basis of dry cation exchange resin; and(b) The reaction is carried out in the liquid phase at a temperature of 30.degree. to 140.degree. C. at a pressure of 2 to 100 bars employing a molar ratio of isoolefin to alkanol of 0.1 to 5.

Abstract: A process is described for producing methyl tert.-butyl ether from butane-containing light hydrocarbon mixtures. The n-butane is isomerized to isobutane which is dehydrogenated to an isobutene/isobutane molar ratio of 0.4 to 2:1, the isobutene in the mixture is etherified with methanol to form methyl tert.-butyl ether and the residual isobutane is recycled for dehydrogenation. After the isomerization step, the n-butane and isobutane can be separated and the n-butane recycled. The product containing methyl tert.-butyl ether can be used as a gasoline additive.

Abstract: Process for producing methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) by reacting methanol with the isobutene present in a C.sub.4 cut in a proportion from 10 to 60%, wherein said cut, admixed with methanol is contacted, in a first reaction zone, with an acid catalyst in the conditions of etherification of isobutene by methanol unit 93 to 98% of the isobutene has been converted, the reaction product is fractionated under at least 10 bars to a bottom fraction consisting essentially of MTBE and a top fraction which is contacted, in a second reaction zone, with an acid catalyst, under the conditions of etherification of isobutene by methanol, until at least 99% of the initial isobutene has been converted, the resulting product is washed with water and separated into a residual C.sub.4 cut which is discharged and an aqueous phase wherefrom methanol is recovered by distillation.

Abstract: Olefinic hydrocarbons may be etherified by reaction with an alcohol in the presence of a phthalocyanine sulfonic acid catalyst at reaction conditions which will include a temperature in the range of from about 30.degree. to about 200.degree. C. and a pressure in the range of from about 1 to about 100 atmospheres. The phthalocyanine sulfonic acids which are employed in this process may, if so desired, contain a metal component such as cobalt, vanadium, tin, nickel, etc. and may also be composited on a solid support such as charcoal.

Abstract: An alkyl t-alkyl ether corresponding to the formula R--O--R', wherein R is a methyl or ethyl group and R' is a t-butyl or t-amyl group, is separated from the alkanol in a reactor effluent comprising a mixture of the ether, unreacted C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkanol, and unreacted hydrocarbon by (1) alternately passing effluent from the reactor through first and second absorption vessels containing fixed beds of solid calcium chloride to complex the unreacted alkanol with the calcium chloride while the ether and unreacted hydrocarbon pass through the vessel, (2) while one absorption vessel is being used to complex unreacted alkanol, regenerating the other absorption vessel by passing a liquid C.sub.4 or C.sub.5 hydrocarbon feed comprising an isoolefin therethrough at a temperature of about 80.degree.-120.degree. C. to desorb the alkanol and provide a desorption effluent of liquid C.sub.4 or C.sub.5 hydrocarbon feed and alkanol, and (3) feeding the desorption effluent to the reactor.

Abstract: Dialkyl ether is produced by passing isoolefin, alkanol and diluent through a series of catalyst zones, cooling the effluent between zones and adding isoolefin and/or alkanol between zones.

Abstract: A process for conjointly preparing methyl tert.-butyl ether and obtaining isobutene from an isobutene-containing C.sub.4 -hydrocarbon mixture. In the process the C.sub.4 -hydrocarbon mixture is reacted, in one or more etherification stages, with methanol and a primary C.sub.3 - or C.sub.4 -alcohol in the presence of an acid condensing agent, the resulting reaction mixture or mixtures are then separated into a fraction containing the unconverted hydrocarbons, the methyl tert.-butyl ether and a fraction containing the C.sub.3 - or C.sub.4 -alkyl tert.-butyl ether. Thereafter, the C.sub.3 - or C.sub.4 -alkyl tert.-butyl ether is decomposed at an elevated temperature, in the presence of an acid catalyst, into isobutene and primary C.sub.3 - or C.sub.4 -alcohol.

Abstract: Oxygenated organic compounds, e.g. esters, aldehydes, and amides, are prepared by reacting an olefinically unsaturated compound with carbon monoxide and a compound containing a replaceable hydrogen atom in the presence of a catalyst comprising cobalt or ruthenium carbonyl and a promoter ligand. The promoter ligand is selected from the group consisting of heterocyclic nitrogen compounds and phosphorus or sulfur oxides. These reactions are carried out under relatively mild conditions of temperature and pressure.

Abstract: Methyl tert.butyl ether is obtained by reacting an isobutene-containing C.sub.4 cut with methanol and distilling the reaction product at a superatmospheric pressure of 7-30 atm. abs. to recover a top fraction and a bottom fraction containing methyl tert.butyl ether. The isobutene conversion rate and the purity of the ether are increased by recycling a portion of the top fraction to the reaction zone.

Abstract: A method for conducting chemical reactions and fractionation of the reaction mixture comprising feeding reactants to a distillation column reactor into a feed zone and concurrently contacting the reactants with a fixed bed catalytic packing to concurrently carry out the reaction and fractionate the reaction mixture. For example, a method for preparing methyl tertiary butyl ether in high purity from a mixed feed stream of isobutene and normal butene comprising feeding the mixed feed stream to a distillation column reactor into a feed zone at the lower end of a distillation reaction zone, and methanol into the upper end of said distillation reaction zone, which is packed with a properly supported cationic ion exchange resin, contacting the C.sub.4 feed and methanol with the catalytic distillation packing to react methanol and isobutene, and concurrently fractionating the ether from the column below the catalytic zone and removing normal butene overhead above the catalytic zone.

Abstract: Process for isolating methyl tert-butyl ether contained in the reaction product of methanol with a C.sub.4 hydrocarbon cut containing isobutene, comprising fractionating said reaction product by introducing it at an intermediate point of a distillation zone, recovering methyl tert-butyl ether at the bottom thereof and, at the top thereof, a mixture of C.sub.4 hydrocarbons with methanol which is washed with water and condensed and wherefrom is separated a condensed C.sub.4 hydrocarbon fraction, a portion of which is fed back as reflux to the top of the distillation zone and another portion discharged, and separating the remaining water-methanol mixture by distillation.

Abstract: Ethers are prepared by reacting olefins and alcohols in the presence of a catalyst system comprising a palladium component and a copper component. The catalyst system can also contain an alkali metal or alkaline earth metal halide with an optional surfactant component also being present in the reaction system. The reaction proceeds in high yield under relatively mild conditions without the presence of a strong acid.

Abstract: An improved process for producing ethylene glycol mono-tert-butyl ether by reacting ethylene glycol with isobutylene in the presence of a catalyst of strongly acidic cation-exchange material is disclosed which enables the production of ethylene glycol mono-tert-butyl ether in a high yield while suppressing the formation of by-product ethylene glycol di-tert-butyl ether by previously adding ethylene glycol di-tert-butyl ether to the reaction system and conducting the reaction at temperatures of about 60 to 130.degree. C.

Abstract: Process for producing and isolating methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) comprising etherifying isobutene, contained in a C.sub.4 hydrocarbons mixture, with methanol in the presence of a recycle stream of C.sub.5 and/or C.sub.6 hydrocarbons, separating from the obtained reaction product, by fractionation, at least the major part of the unconverted C.sub.4 hydrocarbons, and discharging them, and fractionating the remaining product in two fractions, one of which contains an azeotrope of methanol with the C.sub.5 and/or C.sub.6 hydrocarbons and is recycled, the other fraction containing the purified MTBE.

Abstract: A process for obtaining isobutene from a C.sub.4 -hydrocarbon mixture containing isobutene, by reacting the mixture with a primary alcohol in the presence of an acid condensing agent and decomposing the resulting tertiary ether in the presence of an acid catalyst at an elevated temperature, wherein a primary C.sub.3 - or C.sub.4 -alcohol is used.

Abstract: A process for the simultaneous manufacture of pure methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and a substantially isotubene-free mixture of C.sub.4 -hydrocarbons, by reacting the isobutene contained in the mixture of C.sub.4 -hydrocarbons with excess methanol in the liquid phase at elevated temperatures on strongly acid, macroporous, organic ion exchange resins.The process has the following steps:(a) methanol and isobutene are reacted in a molar ratio of 2:1 to 5:1 at temperatures between 30.degree. and 100.degree. C.;(b) the unconverted hydrocarbons are then removed as the top product under a pressure of 2 to 10 bars from a first rectification column;(c) the bottom product from this first column is rectified in a second column under normal pressure or under a slight excess pressure of up to 2 bars at the top of the column, the bottom product of this rectification is recycled to reaction zone (a), if necessary, after separating off a portion of the tertiary butanol formed and the C.sub.

Abstract: An ether is prepared by reacting a selected olefin with an alcohol in a two reaction zone system: in the first reaction zone, the catalyst is dispersed in the liquid phase of the reactants and boiling of the mixture is avoided; in the second reaction zone, the catalyst is in a fixed bed. A cooled recycle stream is fed back to the first stage reactor. The catalyst is a sulfonated ion exchange resin in the acid form.

Abstract: A fiber preparation containing or consisting of a tertiary butyl ether of the general formula ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 is a straight-chain or branched C.sub.12 -C.sub.22 -alkyl or alkenyl group.

Abstract: A process for converting an olefin, or a mixture of olefins, to an ether, or a mixture of ethers, which comprises reacting said olefin, or said mixture of olefins, with an alkanol in contact with silicatungstic acid.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for the reaction of alcohols and iso-olefins to produce ethers wherein two reactors connected in series are employed and portions of the iso-olefin feed are diverted from said first reactor to said second as required to assist in maintaining the temperature in the first reactor below a selected valve. A system for achieving that end is also disclosed.

Abstract: A C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkanol is separated from aqueous calcium chloride by adding a C.sub.4 or C.sub.5 hydrocarbon feed comprising an isoolefin to an aqueous solution of a calcium chloride-alkanol complex wherein the alkanol is methanol or ethanol at a temperature of about 80.degree.-120.degree. C. and a pressure of about 20-180 psig to provide an upper phase comprising the hydrocarbon feed and alkanol and a lower phase comprising aqueous calcium chloride. The invention is particularly useful as a step in a process for preparing and purifying methyl t-butyl ether by (1) reacting an excess of methanol with isobutylene or a C.sub.4 hydrocarbon stream containing isobutylene to form a crude reaction product comprising methyl t-butyl ether and excess methanol, (2) intimately mixing the crude reaction product with aqueous calcium chloride to complex the methanol and separate it from the ether, and (3) adding the hydrocarbon stream to extract the methanol from the aqueous calcium chloride-methanol complex solution.

Abstract: The present invention is a homogeneous liquid phase process for the preparation of methyl-t-butyl ether by reacting isobutylene and methanol in the presence of a heteropoly acid of molybdenum, tungsten or vanadium. Other tertiary ethers may be obtained by substituting a different tertiary olefin for isobutylene, e.g. t-amyl methyl ether from 2-methylbutene-2 and methanol.

Abstract: Propylene and ethylene may be carbonylated to form carboxylic acid esters or carboxylic acids in the presence of a catalyst complex containing 1 mole of BF.sub.3 and 1 mole of a second complexing component. The carboxylic acid product or acid portion of the ester product has one more carbon atom than the olefin reacted. High yields of these products are obtained. In the case of the formation of the ester, the second complexing component is an alcohol, while in the case of the preparation of carboxylic acid, the second complexing component is water. Methyl isobutyrate and methyl propionate formed by the carbonylation of propylene and ethylene, respectively, in the presence of a BF.sub.3.CH.sub.3 OH catalyst may be dehydrogenated to prepare methyl methacrylate and methyl acrylate, respectively. Similarly, the isobutyric acid and propionic acid formed from propylene and ethylene, respectively, in the presence of BF.sub.3.H.sub.