ONE-STEP SYNTHESIS OF METHYL T-BUTYL ETHER FROM T-BUTANOL USING ZEOLITE BETA AND MULTIMETAL-MODIFIED ZEOLITE BETA CATALYSTS

摘要

ONE-STEP SYNTHESIS OF METHYL t-BUTYL ETHER FROM t-BUTANOL USING ZEOLITE BETA AND MULTIMETAL-MODIFIED ZEOLITE BETA CATALYSTS (D#81,221-F) Disclosed is an improved process for preparing methyl t-butyl ether in one step which comprises reacting tertiary butanol and methanol in the presence of a catalyst selected from zeolite beta and multimetal modified zeolite beta with a metal selected from the group consisting of Groups IB, VB, VIB, VIIB or VIII of the Periodic Table at a temperature of about 20.degree.C to 250.degree.C and atmospheric pressure to about 1000 psig, wherein when the temperature is in the operating range above about 140.degree.C, the product comprises a two-phase mix of an isobutylene-MTBE product-rich phase and a heavier aqueous methanol-rich phase.