Integrated process for making propene oxide and an alkyl tert-butyl ether

An integrated process for making propene oxide and methyl tert-butyl ether comprising:

• a) a step of dehydrogenating a feed stream, S1, comprising propane and iso-butane, to provide a stream, S2, comprising propene, iso-butene and hydrogen;
• b) a separation step separating stream S2 into a stream, S3, consisting essentially of hydrogen and a stream, S4, comprising propene and iso-butene;
• c) a separation step separating stream S4 into a stream S5 comprising propene and a stream, S6, comprising iso-butene;
• d) a step of reacting a part or all of stream S5 with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of an epoxidation catalyst, providing a stream, S7, comprising propene oxide;
• e) a separation step separating propene oxide from stream S7;
• f) a step of reacting a part or all of stream S6 with methanol in the presence of a solid acid catalyst, providing a stream, S8, comprising methyl tert-butyl ether;
• and
• g) a separation step separating the methyl tert-butyl ether from stream S8.

An integrated process for making propene oxide and an alkyl tert-butyl ether, comprising:

• a) a step of dehydrogenating a feed stream, S1, comprising propane, n-butane and iso-butane, to provide a stream, S2, comprising propene, 1-butene, iso-butene and hydrogen;
• b) a separation step separating stream S2 into a stream, S3, consisting essentially of hydrogen and a stream, S4, comprising propene, 1-butene and iso-butene;
• c) a separation step separating stream S4 into a stream, S5, comprising propene and a stream, S6, comprising 1-butene and iso-butene;
• d) a separation step separating unreacted propane from stream S5 and recycling it as a stream, S9 to step a);
• e) a step of reacting a part or all of stream S5 from which propane has been separated in step d) with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of an epoxidation catalyst, to provide a stream, S7, comprising propene oxide;
• f) a separation step separating propene oxide from stream S7;
• g) a step of reacting a part or all of stream S6 with an alkanol in the presence of a solid acid catalyst, to provide a stream, S8, comprising an alkyl tert-butyl ether;
• h) a separation step separating the alkyl tert-butyl ether and a stream, S10, comprising 1-butene from stream S8;
• and
• i) a separation step separating a stream S12 consisting essentially of 1-butene from stream S10.