EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY OF THE SIMULTANEOUS SYNTHESIS OF METHYL TERT-BUTYLETHER AND ETHYL TERT-BUTYL ETHER IN LIQUID-PHASE

Equilibria constants for the simultaneous liquid-phase syntheses of me thyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) were de termined experimentally in the temperature range 313-353 K at 1.6 MPa. To achieve etherification equilibria, the macroporous sulfonic add re sin Bayer K=2631 was used as the catalyst. MTBE reached the equilibriu m faster than ETBE. The progress of the reactions toward the respectiv e equilibrium was determined using different particle sizes ranging fr om 0.1 to 1 mm at 50 degrees C. Catalyst effectiveness factors greater than unity were observed for the particle sizes of 0.4-0.63 mm.