Appeal No. 96-2339
Application 08/299,391
methyl tertiary butyl ether;
b) continuously charging said etherification reaction
product to a first methyl tertiary butyl ether distillation
zone and separating it therein into a first lighter
distillation fraction comprising isobutylene, methanol and
methyl tertiary butyl ether and a second heavier distillation
fraction comprising methanol, tertiary butyl alcohol and
water;
c) continuously charging an isobutylene reaction mixture
comprising the first distillation fraction and a first recycle
isobutylene fraction (IBTE) to an isobutylene conversion
reaction zone containing a solid resin IBTE/MeOH
etherification catalyst and partially reacting the isobutylene
and methanol contained in the isobutylene reaction mixt0ure to
form an isobutylene conversion product containing isobutylene,
methanol, tertiary butyl alcohol and water;
d) continuously charging said isobutylene conversion
product to a methanol extraction zone comprising a counter-
current contact tower, continuously charging a second
isobutylene recycle fraction to said counter-current contact
tower at a charge point about 1 to 3 theoretical plates below
the point of introduction of said isobutylene conversion
product and countercurrently contacting said isobutylene
conversion product therein with water and with said second
isobutylene recycle fraction to provide an overhead raffinate
comprising isobutylene, methyl tertiary butyl ether and a
minor amount of water and an extract substantially free from
methyl tertiary butyl ether comprising methanol and water;
e) continuously charging said raffinate to a second
methyl tertiary butyl ether purification distillation zone and
separating said raffinate therein into a third lighter
distillation fraction comprising isobutylene and water and a
fourth heavier distillation fraction consisting essentially of
methyl tertiary butyl ether;
f) continuously charging said third distillation fraction
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Last modified: November 3, 2007