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: 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: 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with beds of catalyst in the form of spherules suitable for preparing said tert-alkyl ether, the ether obtained being withdrawn as a substantially pure bottom product.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: A process for the separation of diisopropylether from a hydrocarbon stream containing it, by contacting the stream with ethylene glycol whereby the diisopropylether is absorbed by the glycol and a purified hydrocarbon stream is separated therefrom.

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Specific undesired compounds such as water, methanol or the product ether are removed from a hydrocarbon recycle stream withdrawn from the etherification zone by contacting the recycle stream with a solid regenerable sorbent.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: Isopropyl ether cannot be completely removed from isopropyl ether - methyl ethyl ketone mixtures by distillation because of the presence of the minimum binary azeotrope. Isopropyl ether can be readily removed from mixtures containing it and methyl ethyl ketone by using extractive distillation in which the extractive distillation agent is a higher boiling oxygenated, nitrogenous and/or sulfur containing organic compound or a mixture of these. Typical examples of effective agents are sulfolane; ethylene carbonate plus dimethylsulfoxide; adiponitrile plus dimethylformamide plus glycerine.

Abstract: Isopropyl ether cannot be completely removed from isopropyl ether-acetone mixtures by distillation because of the presence of the minimum binary azeotrope. Isopropyl ether can be readily removed from mixtures containing it and acetone by using extractive distillation in which the extractive distillation agent is a higher boiling oxygenated or nitrogenous organic compound or a mixture of these. Typical examples of effective agents are: dimethylsulfoxide; sulfolane and propylene glycol; glycerine, ethylene glycol and adiponitrile.

Abstract: An oxygenated organic compound, such as ethanol, is recovered from a dilute aqueous stream thereof by contacting said stream with crosslinked polyvinylpyridine resin or nuclear substituted derivative thereof to effect selective sorption of the compound by said resin. The sorbed compound is thereafter removed from the resin by stripping with an inert gas such as carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A thermally efficient process for recovering an oxygenated organic material, such as ethanol, present in dilute aqueous solution is disclosed which comprises contacting said dilute aqueous solution with at least one inert extractant which is liquid at ambient temperature and pressure, said extractant being selected from the group consisting of unsubstituted and substituted cyclic secondary amines and unsubstituted and substituted aromatic cyclic amines having a distribution coefficient of at least about 0.70 or a separation factor of at least about 1.0.

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: 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: A method for separating a mixture of reaction products produced in the catalytic etherification of a lower isoolefin with methanol wherein said reaction product comprises a mixture of ether, methanol, unreacted hydrocarbon and tertiary alcohol which comprises adding water to said reaction product to form a hydrocarbon phase containing said ether and an aqueous phase containing methanol and a tertiary alcohol, separating said hydrocarbon phase to recover a methyltertiary alkyl ether, introducing said alcohol-containing aqueous phase into a distillation column to separate a methanol fraction overhead, withdrawing a side stream rich in tertiary alcohol from said distillation column, stripping this side stream in a stripping column to separate a second methanol fraction overhead and a tertiary alcohol bottoms fraction and recycling the methanol overhead fraction from the stripping column to the upper part of the distillation column and recycling the overhead methanol fraction from the distillation column to the f

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: 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: 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: 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 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: 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: Methyl tertiary butyl ether is produced from a mixture of C.sub.4 hydrocarbons containing isobutylene and butadiene. The isobutylene is selectively reacted with a greater than stoichiometric amount of methanol at a temperature of 50 to 120 degrees C., in a homogeneous liquid phase and in the presence of a catalytic amount of sulfuric acid. The sulfuric acid is present in an amount less than 20% by weight based on the weight of the reaction mixture. The homogeneous liquid phase is maintained throughout the reaction whereby a reaction mixture containing methyl tertiary butyl ether is produced and undesired polymerization of the badadiene is avoided. The reaction mixture is cooled then reaction mixture which has been washed free of methanol, or separated unreacted C.sub.4 fraction which is isobutylene-free, is added. An upper phase containing hydrocarbons and methyl tertiary butyl ether and a part of the methanol and a lower phase containing methanol and 10 to 50% sulfuric acid is formed.

Abstract: Process for the preparation of pure methyl tert.-butyl ether. Isobutene or isobutene-containing hydrocarbon mixtures are reacted with methanol in a molar ratio of 1:1 to 1:2 in the liquid phase at temperatures of between 30.degree. and 100.degree. C. on sulfonated, strongly acidic, macroporous organic ion exchange resins. After separation of the unreacted hydrocarbons, the reaction mixture is distilled under pressure; the methanol-containing distillate formed during the distillation is recycled into the zone of the reaction between methanol and isobutene; and pure methyl tert.-butyl ether is withdrawn from the sump of the distillation column.

Abstract: Mixed hydrocarbons of predominantly four carbon atoms each are subjected to etherification with methanol, to make ether from the tertiary olefin in the mixture; the unreacted hydrocarbons, after separation from the ether by distillation, are contaminated with methanol which is removed by absorption or extraction with a glycol before the hydrocarbons are subjected to further processing in which the methanol is detrimental.

Abstract: In the processing of olefinic hydrocarbon mixtures containing isobutylene and isoamylene which are etherified with methanol to obtain higher octane components, unreacted methanol is removed from the etherified mixture by contact with a separate liquid glycol phase before unreacted hydrocarbons, substantially free of methanol, are distilled from the etherified mixture for further catalytic processing in which methanol is deleterious to the catalyst.

Abstract: A mixed C.sub.4 hydrocarbon stream containing from 5 to 60% isobutene is mixed with methanol providing from about 2% to about 20% excess methanol (stoichiometry based on isobutene content) to provide fresh feed for preparing tertiary butyl methyl ether in a reaction zone containing acidic ion exchange catalyst. Formation of trouble-some amounts of diisobutylene is repressed by the presence of the excess methanol. The effluent comprising TBME, excess methanol, and unreacted C.sub.4 hydrocarbons is directed to a unique purification zone. The butenes are distilled from the effluent at a pressure from about 7 to 25 atmospheres, preferably at about 12 to 20 atmospheres. Surprisingly all of the excess methanol is azeotropically removed with the C.sub.4 hydrocarbons by the pressurized azeotropic distillation, leaving a bottoms consisting of a technical grade of TBME free from troublesome amounts of methanol.

Abstract: Methyl t-butyl ether may be recovered from etherification reaction effluent by extractive distillation in the presence of n-butanol.

Abstract: Methyl tertiary butyl ether may be recovered from etherification reaction effluent by azeotropic distillation to recover methanol-ether azeotrope overhead which is water-washed to give pure ether raffinate plus ether-methanol bottoms, the latter being azeotropically distilled to yield ether-methanol overhead which is recycled to water-washing.