Synthesis of Tert-amyl Methyl Ether with Methanol and C5 Hydrocarbons

Abstract

The reaction system and mechanism of etherification of C5 cut with methanol were analyzed theoretically. Experiments were carried out in a tubular reactor at temperatures of 50°C–80°C in the presence of a strong cation-exchange resin, QRE. In the reaction system, two types of reactions took place: etherification and isomerization. At lower temperature, the reaction rates were controlled by kinetic factors, but at temperature above 60°C, both reactions were affected by thermodynamic equilibrium. The appropriate operating conditions were: T at 60°C–65°C, molar ratio of methanol and isoamylenes 1.0–1.2, and liquid hourly space velocity (LHSV) 1.0–1.5.

Keywords:

• C5 hydrocarbons
• methanol
• synthesis
• tert-amyl methyl ether

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors would like to acknowledge financial support by CNPC innovation found under grant 05E7002.