METHODS FOR PRODUCING ETHYL TERT-BUTYL ETHER

摘要

Embodiments of methods for producing ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) are provided herein. A method for producing ETBE comprises the steps of contacting a C4 olefin-rich stream that contains isobutene with a first catalyst in the presence of ethanol at etherification conditions effective to form a reaction effluent comprising ETBE and residual ethanol. The reaction effluent is combined with a C5 paraffin-rich stream that contains isopentane to form a combined stream. The combined stream is fractionated at distillation conditions effective to produce an ETBE-rich product stream. Fractionating the combined stream comprises forming a light boiling azeotrope of ethanol with isopentane to remove at least a portion of the residual ethanol from the combined stream.