PRODUCTION OF ISOPROPYL TERT-BUTYL ETHER FROM CRUDE ACETONE

摘要

Disclosed is a two-step process for the generation of isopropyl t-butyl ether from a crude by-product acetone stream which comprises: a) Hydrogenating said crude acetone over a bulk metal, nickel-rich catalyst to give an isopropanol-rich effluent; b) subjecting said isopropanol-rich intermediate to etherification conditions in the presence of a strong acid catalyst selected from: (1) a cationic resin; (2) a beta -zeolite; (3) dealuminised Y-zeolites; and (4) metal-modified beta -zeolites. The process may also be used for the co-generation of isopropyl t-butyl ether and methyl t-butyl ether where the crude acetone stream additionally contains significant quantities of both methanol and t-butanol.