US 5,473,105 A · Process for concurrently producing diisopropyl ether and isoproyl ethyl ether

Abstract

A process for concurrently producing diisopropyl ether and isopropyl ethyl ether from water, ethanol from an independent source, and propylene, has been developed. The product mixture may be used as a high octane number booster due mainly to the presence of the diisopropyl ether and to a lesser extent, the isopropyl ethyl ether. Furthermore, the product mixture, upon blending with gasoline, incorporates a renewable resource into the gasoline since the isopropyl ethyl ether is produced from ethanol. Optionally, the product mixture may be passed through an acid removal zone to remove acid, if present, before being recycled or further processed. A portion of the product mixture is recycled to the reaction zone to increase the conversion of reactants to products.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A process of concurrently producing diisopropyl ether and isopropyl ethyl ether comprising:

a. reacting, in a reaction zone at reaction conditions ranging from about 100 to about 1500 psia and from about 130.degree. C. to about 180.degree. C., water, ethanol from an independent source, and propylene of a feedstock containing at least 50 mass % propylene in the presence of an acidic catalyst selected from the group consisting of activated charcoal, clays, resins, and zeolites, to afford a product mixture comprising water, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, diisopropyl ether, isopropyl ethyl ether, diethyl ether, ethylene, and propylene;
b. passing the product mixture to an acid removal zone to remove acid;
and
c. recycling a first portion of the product mixture to the reaction zone and collecting a second portion of the product mixture.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Process for concurrently producing diisopropyl ether and isoproyl ethyl ether

Life of this patent

Process for concurrently producing diisopropyl ether and isoproyl ethyl ether

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18