LIQUID-PHASE SYNTHESIS OF ETHANOL-DERIVED MIXED TERTIARY ALKYL ETHYL ETHERS IN AN ISOTHERMAL INTEGRAL PACKED-BED REACTOR

Industrial production of mixed tertiary ethers by reacting methanol or ethanol with a mixed tertiary olefin stream is a distinct possibility . Consequently, the synthesis of mixed ethyl tertiary alkyl ethers fro m ethanol and mixtures of reactive iso-olefins in an isothermal integr al packed-bed reader is studied. The rate expressions in terms of acti vities for the individual reaction rates in this family of ethers are taken from related work. These kinetic expressions are utilized here f or comparison with experimental data obtained in a packed-bed reactor containing Amberlyst 15 ion-exchange resin catalyst for a mixed iso-C- 6 olefin feed stream as well as for a mixed C-4, C-5, and C-6 iso-olef in stream. Esterification and isomerization conversions increase with space time at the lower temperatures; however, at the higher temperatu res equilibrium limitations are approached. As a function of temperatu re, the conversions first increase and then decline due to thermodynam ic limitations for these exothermic reactions. Good agreement is obtai ned between predictions and experiments.