One step synthesis of methyl t-butyl ether from t-butanol using hydrogen fluoride-modified zeolite catalysts

摘要

A method is disclosed wherein t-butanol is reacted with methanol in a reaction zone in one step to provide methyl tert-butyl ether and the improvement of accomplishing the reaction which comprises:P Pa. Using a catalyst consisting of a crystalline aluminosilicate faujasite Y-type zeolite which has been treated with hydrogen fluoride; PPb. continuously contacting said t-butanol and methanol in a molar amount of about 0.1 to 10 moles of methanol per mole of t- butanol with said catalyst at a temperature of about 20° C. to about 250° C. and a pressure of about atmospheric to about 1000 psig to obtain the methyl tert-butyl ether product wherein the product mix separates into an isobutylene-MTBE product-rich phase and a heavier aqueous methanol phase.