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Development and start‐up of a fixed bed reaction column for manufacturing antiknock enhancer MTBE
Author(s) -
Flato Jörg,
Hoffmann Ulrich
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
chemical engineering and technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1521-4125
pISSN - 0930-7516
DOI - 10.1002/ceat.270150308
Subject(s) - isobutylene , chemistry , methanol , distillation , catalysis , raschig ring , ion exchange resin , inert , reactive distillation , fractionating column , chemical reactor , chemical engineering , ether , organic chemistry , packed bed , chromatography , engineering , copolymer , polymer
A laboratory fixed‐bed reaction column is presented, in which a heterogeneouslyl catalyzed reversible fluid‐phase reaction and the separation of the reaction product from unreacted or inert components by distillation are performed simultaneously. The rection studied, the formation of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) from methanol and isobutylene, is catalyzed by strongly acidic macroreticular ion exchange resins. Packing elements are Raschig rings, manufactured for the first time from the above‐mentioned ion exchange resins. This in‐house made catalyst shows practically the same ion exchange capacity as the commercial products. The control system installed in the equipment is capable of correcting strong disturbances os the steady state. As shown by expwrimental results, the superimposed distillation process occurs in such a way that the chemical equilibrium of the MTBE synthesis does not limit isobutylene conversion.