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US 2025/0084013 A1Published application
Use of divided wall technology to produce high purity methanol
AssigneeLummus Technology Inc.
InventorsRosette Barias, Alejandro Maurer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems for producing high purity methanol and isobutene from crude MTBE feed using multiple divided wall columns are provided. The methods can include purifying the MTBE, dissociating the MTBE to produce isobutene and methanol, purifying the isobutene and recovering/purifying methanol.
Claims17
-16. (canceled)
A system for the production of isobutene, the system comprising:
- a. a first fractionation system which receives a feed stream comprising crude MTBE, and which produces an MTBE product stream comprising at least 94 wt % MTBE and a heavies stream;
- b. a first reactor configured for contacting the MTBE product stream with a catalyst to provide an effluent comprising isobutene and methanol;
- c. an extraction unit configured for contacting the effluent comprising isobutene and methanol with one or more extractants to produce an extractant/methanol stream and a mixed isobutene stream;
- d. a second fractionation system which receives the mixed isobutene stream, and which produces a stream comprising isobutene comprising at least 95 wt % isobutene;
- e. a third fractionation system which receives the extractant/methanol stream, and which produces a methanol stream comprising at least 95 wt % methanol, a lights fraction, and a heavies fraction comprising extractant.
2 more elements
(canceled)
A system for the production of isobutene, the system comprising:
- a. a first fractionation system which receives a feed stream comprising crude MTBE, and which produces an MTBE product stream comprising at least 94 wt % MTBE and a heavies stream;
- b. a first reactor configured for contacting the MTBE product stream with a catalyst to provide an effluent comprising isobutene and methanol;
- c. an extraction unit configured for contacting the effluent comprising isobutene and methanol with one or more extractants to produce an extractant/methanol stream and a mixed isobutene stream;
- d. a second fractionation system which receives the mixed isobutene stream, and which produces a stream comprising isobutene comprising at least 95 wt % isobutene;
- e. a third fractionation system comprising a divided wall distillation column which receives the extractant/methanol stream, and which produces a methanol stream comprising at least 95 wt % methanol, a lights fraction, and a heavies fraction comprising extractant;
- f. a recycle flow line for recycling at least a portion of the lights fraction from the third fractionation system to the first fractionation column.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.