Process for the preparation and fractionation of a mixture of dimethyl ether and chloromethane with methanol as extractant

摘要

This invention relates to a process for the preparation and fractionation of a mixture of dimethyl ether and chloromethane by extractive distillation with methanol as extractant. The mixture is prepared by reacting methanol with hydrogen chloride. The mixture is then distilled to remove water and is subsequently subjected to an extractive distillation with methanol as extractant, with chloromethane resulting as top product. In another distillation step, the remaining dimethyl ether is separated from the methanol.