Production of isobutylene and methanol by decomposition of methyl-tert-butylether (MTBE) comprises recycle of an MTBE fraction from the distillation of the oil layer.

摘要

A process for the production of isobutylene and methanol by decomposition of methyl-tert-butylether (MTBE), washing and separation into an oil layer and a water layer comprises recycle of an MTBE fraction from the distillation of the oil layer. A process for the production of isobutylene and methanol by decomposition of methyl-tert-butylether (MTBE) to form a mixture of isobutylene and methanol, separation of the compounds from the mixture and recovery of isobutylene and methanol separately comprises: (A) decomposition of methyl-tert-butylether in the presence of a solid acid catalyst to yield a reaction liquid comprising isobutylene, methanol and byproduct dialkyl ether and heavy components comprising isobutylene dimer and trimer; (B) washing of the reaction liquid from (A) to separate the liquid into an oil layer and a water layer; (C) distillation of the oil layer using a distillation column to yield isobutylene and dialkyl ether at the level of the column and methyl-tert-butylether and heavy components at the base of the column and a methyl-tert-butylether containing fraction from the side fraction of distillation column and recycle of the side fraction to step (A); and (D) distillation of the water layer from (B) to yield methanol containing fraction from the head of the column and a water containing fraction from the base of the distillation column.