Fixed bed process for the production of t-butanol

摘要

An improved process for the preparation of tertiary butyl alcohol comprising passing isobutene and water in a molar ratio of water to isobutene in the range of 0.06 to 0.24 : 1 or preferably less than 0.2 : 1 through a fixed bed acidic cation exchange resin, producing only a hydrocarbon phase, removing the hydrocarbon phase, splitting the hydrocarbon phase, and recycling a portion thereof to the reaction. The recycle provides the means to control the temperature of the reaction by cooling the recycle, and suppresses or inhibits the production of isobutene polymers.