PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF TERTIARY ALKYL ETHERS AND TERTIARY ALKYL ALCOHOLS

摘要

A process for producing lower alkyl tertiary alkyl ethers or tertiary alkyl alcohol, such as methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), methyl tertiary amyl ether (TAME) or tertiary butyl alcohol, wherein the 1-alkene component of the hydrocarbon feedstream to an etherification or olefin hydration process is separated by selective oligomerization in contact with a reduced chromium on silica support catalyst producing useful hydrocarbons of higher molecular weight, such as gasoline, distillate and lube range hydrocarbons. It has further been found that separation of the 1-alkene component of the hydrocarbon feedstream can be accomplished in an oligomerization process integrated either upstream or downstream of the etherification step.