Fuel produced by a process comprising etherification of a hydrocarbon fraction comprising olefins containing 5 to 8 carbon atoms

A process for producing a fuel suitable for an internal combustion engine, produced from a hydrocarbon mixture comprising etherifiable and non-etherifiable hydrocarbons containing 5 to 8 carbon atoms, said process comprising:

• distilling said hydrocarbon mixture to obtain a top fraction enriched in C.sub.6 hydrocarbons and a bottom fraction enriched in hydrocarbons containing more than 6 carbon atoms, said top fraction containing etherifiable and non-etherifiable olefins;
• subjecting said top fraction to an isomerization step to convert said non-etherifiable olefins to etherifiable olefins;
• catalytically etherifying at least a portion of the etherifiable olefins contained in the resultant produce from the isomerization step with at least one alcohol containing 1 to 4 carbon atoms, said alcohol being employed at an alcohol:
• etherifiable olefin molar ratio of at least 1:1;
• and
• washing at least a portion of the resultant ether containing product with water.