Removal of oxygen containing compounds in a MTBE process by reactive distillation.

摘要

A process is provided to remove oxygenates from a C4 raffinate stream from an MTBE plant. A back-cracking catalyst is placed into the bottom of an oxygenate removal column which will convert any MTBE or TBA contained therein back to their original components of isobutene and methanol or water. The raffinate stream is first subjected to a water wash to remove the gross amounts of methanol and DME.