One-step synthesis of methyl t-butyl ether from t-butanol using pillared, phosphated montmorillonite clay catalysts
AssigneeTexaco Inc.
InventorJohn F. Knifton
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Abstract
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: a. Using a catalyst comprising a chlorohydrol-treated, phosphated montmorillonite clay, b. 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.degree. C. to about 250.degree. C. and a pressure of about atmospheric to about 1000 psig to obtain the methyl tert-butyl ether product.
Claims16
In a method wherein t-butanol is reacted with methanol in one-step in the presence of a catalyst to provide methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), the improvement comprising using as a catalyst a chlorohydrol-treated, phosphated acidic montmorillonite clay and 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 20.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. and a pressure of atmospheric to 1000 psig to obtain methyl tert-butyl ether product.
In a method wherein a C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 primary alcohol is reacted with a C.sub.4 -C.sub.10 tertiary alcohol in the presence of a catalyst to provide alkyl tertiary alkyl ethers, the improvement comprising using as a catalyst a chlorohydrol-treated, phosphated acidic montmorillonite clay and continuously contacting said tertiary alcohol and primary alcohol 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 20.degree. C. to 250.degree. C. and a pressure of atmospheric to 1000 psig to obtain alkyl tertiary alkyl ethers.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.