USING BUTENES TO FRACTIONATE METHANOL FROM METHYL- TERTIARY-BUTYL ETHER

摘要

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 butanes 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.