US3940450A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Preparation and recovery of ethers
Assignee: Texaco Inc
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Filing: 1974-12-16
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Granted: 1976-02-24
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Expires: 1994-12-16
Abstract
Abstract Methyl tertiary butyl ether may be recovered from etherification reaction effluent by azeotropic distillation to recover methanol-ether azeotrope overhead which latter is azeotropically distilled in the presence of n-pentane to give pure ether bottoms substantially free of water and methanol.
Inventors
- 👤 Kung-You Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 15:32
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07C; C07C41/00; C07C41/01; C07C41/05; C07C41/06; C07C41/34; C07C41/40; C07C41/42
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
The method which comprises distilling a reaction mixture containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether in a first distilling operation thereby forming first azeotrope overhead containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether and first azeotrope bottoms containing methanol; distilling said first azeotrope overhead containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether in a second distillation operation in the presence of n-pentane thereby forming second azeotrope overhead containing methanol and n-pentane and second azeotrope bottoms containing desired product methyl t-butyl either; and withdrawing said second azeotrope bottoms containing desired product methyl t-butyl ether.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
The method which comprises distilling a reaction mixture containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether in a first distilling operation thereby forming first azeotrope overhead containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether and first azeotrope bottoms containing methanol; distilling said first azeotrope overhead containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether in a second distillation operation in the presence of n-pentane thereby forming second azeotrope overhead containing methanol and n-pentane and second azeotrope bottoms containing desired product methyl t-butyl either; and withdrawing said second azeotrope bottoms containing desired product methyl t-butyl ether.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method claimed in claim 1 wherein in said reaction mixture the mole ratio of methanol to isobutene is at least about 0.8.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method claimed in claim 1 wherein in said reaction mixture the mole ratio of methanol to isobutene is greater than 1.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said first distilling operation is carried out at 0 - 5 psig.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said first azeotrope overhead contains 83 - 87% methyl tertiarybutyl ether and 13 % - 17 % methanol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said first azeotrope bottoms consists essentially of methanol.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method claimed in claim 1 wherein the charge to said second distillation operation includes 10 - 11 parts of n-pentane per part of methanol.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method claimed in claim 1 wherein the charge to said second distillation operation includes at least 10 parts of n-pentane per part of methanol.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said second azeotrope overhead contains 90 - 92 % n-pentane and 8 - 10 % methanol.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said second azeotrope overhead contains about 91 % n-pentane and 9 % methanol.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said second azeotrope bottoms consists essentially of methyl tertiary-butyl ether.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
183 words
The method which comprises distilling a reaction mixture containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether in a first distilling operation thereby forming first azeotrope overhead containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether and first azeotrope bottoms containing methanol; distilling said first azeotrope overhead containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether in a second distillation operation in the presence of n-pentane thereby forming second azeotrope overhead containing methanol and n-pentane and secnd azeotrope bottoms containing desired product methyl t-butyl ether; rectifying at least a portion of said first azeotrope bottoms containing methanol and at least a portion of said aqueous extract containing water and methanol thereby forming a rectification overhead containing methanol; recovering said rectification overhead containing methanol; withdrawing said second azeotrope bottoms containing desired product methyl t-butyl ether; contacting said second azeotrope overhead containing methanol and n-pentane in a contacting operation with water thereby forming aqueous extract containing water and methanol and raffinate containing n-pentane; fractionating said raffinate thereby forming fractionation overhead containing n-pentane and fractionation bottoms containing water; and passing at least a portion of said fractionation overhead containing n-pentane to said second distillation operation.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
183 words
The method which comprises distilling a reaction mixture containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether in a first distilling operation thereby forming first azeotrope overhead containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether and first azeotrope bottoms containing methanol; distilling said first azeotrope overhead containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether in a second distillation operation in the presence of n-pentane thereby forming second azeotrope overhead containing methanol and n-pentane and secnd azeotrope bottoms containing desired product methyl t-butyl ether; rectifying at least a portion of said first azeotrope bottoms containing methanol and at least a portion of said aqueous extract containing water and methanol thereby forming a rectification overhead containing methanol; recovering said rectification overhead containing methanol; withdrawing said second azeotrope bottoms containing desired product methyl t-butyl ether; contacting said second azeotrope overhead containing methanol and n-pentane in a contacting operation with water thereby forming aqueous extract containing water and methanol and raffinate containing n-pentane; fractionating said raffinate thereby forming fractionation overhead containing n-pentane and fractionation bottoms containing water; and passing at least a portion of said fractionation overhead containing n-pentane to said second distillation operation.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
179 words
The method which comprises reacting methanol and isobutene in the presence of a solid resin etherification catalyst thereby forming a reaction mixture including unreacted methanol, unreacted isobutylene, and product methyl t-butyl ether; separating said unreacted isobutene from said reaction mixture thereby forming a separated reaction mixture containing unreacted methanol and product methyl t-butyl ether; distilling said separated reaction mixture containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether in a first distilling operation thereby forming first azeotrope overhead containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether and first azeotrope bottoms containing methanol; distilling said first azeotrope overhead containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether in a second distillation operation in the presence of n-pentane thereby forming second azeotrope overhead containing methanol and n-pentane and second azeotrope bottoms containing desired product methyl t-butyl ether; withdrawing said second azeotrope bottoms containing desired product methyl t-butyl ether; contacting said second azeotrope overhead containing methanol and n-pentane in a contacting operation with water thereby forming aqueous extract containing water and methanol and raffinate containing n-pentane; fractionating said raffinate thereby forming fractionation overhead containing n-pentane and fractionation bottoms containing water.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
179 words
The method which comprises reacting methanol and isobutene in the presence of a solid resin etherification catalyst thereby forming a reaction mixture including unreacted methanol, unreacted isobutylene, and product methyl t-butyl ether; separating said unreacted isobutene from said reaction mixture thereby forming a separated reaction mixture containing unreacted methanol and product methyl t-butyl ether; distilling said separated reaction mixture containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether in a first distilling operation thereby forming first azeotrope overhead containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether and first azeotrope bottoms containing methanol; distilling said first azeotrope overhead containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether in a second distillation operation in the presence of n-pentane thereby forming second azeotrope overhead containing methanol and n-pentane and second azeotrope bottoms containing desired product methyl t-butyl ether; withdrawing said second azeotrope bottoms containing desired product methyl t-butyl ether; contacting said second azeotrope overhead containing methanol and n-pentane in a contacting operation with water thereby forming aqueous extract containing water and methanol and raffinate containing n-pentane; fractionating said raffinate thereby forming fractionation overhead containing n-pentane and fractionation bottoms containing water.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
284 words
The method which comprises reacting methanol and isobutene in the presence of a solid resin etherification catalyst thereby forming a reaction mixture including unreacted methanol, unreacted isobutylene, and product methyl t-butyl ether; separating said unreacted isobutene from said reaction mixture thereby forming a separated reaction mixture containing 20 - 50% of unreacted methanol and 40% - 70 % of product methyl t-butyl ether; distilling said separated reaction mixture in a first distilling operation thereby forming first azeotrope overhead containing 13 - 17 % of methanol and 83 % - 87 % of methyl t-butyl ether and first azeotrope bottoms containing methanol; distilling said first azeotrope overhead containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether in a second distillation operation in the presence of 10 - 11 parts of n-pentane per part of methanol thereby forming second azeotrope overhead containing 8% - 10% of methanol and 90- 92% of n-pentane and second azeotrope bottoms consisting essentially of desired product methyl t-butyl ether; withdrawing said second azeotrope bottoms containing desired product methyl t-butyl ether; contacting said second azeotrope overhead containing methanol and n-pentane in a contacting operation with 3 - 4 parts of water per part of methanol thereby forming aqueous extract containing water and methanol and raffinate containing n-pentane; fractionating said raffinate thereby forming fractionation overhead containing n-pentane and fractionation bottoms containing water; passing at least a portion of said fractionation overhead containing n-pentane to said second distillation operation; rectifying at least a portion of said first azeotrope bottoms containing methanol and at least a portion of said aqueous extract containing water and methanol thereby forming a rectification overhead containing methanol; and passing at least a portion of said rectification overhead containing methanol to said reaction operation.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
284 words
The method which comprises reacting methanol and isobutene in the presence of a solid resin etherification catalyst thereby forming a reaction mixture including unreacted methanol, unreacted isobutylene, and product methyl t-butyl ether; separating said unreacted isobutene from said reaction mixture thereby forming a separated reaction mixture containing 20 - 50% of unreacted methanol and 40% - 70 % of product methyl t-butyl ether; distilling said separated reaction mixture in a first distilling operation thereby forming first azeotrope overhead containing 13 - 17 % of methanol and 83 % - 87 % of methyl t-butyl ether and first azeotrope bottoms containing methanol; distilling said first azeotrope overhead containing methanol and methyl t-butyl ether in a second distillation operation in the presence of 10 - 11 parts of n-pentane per part of methanol thereby forming second azeotrope overhead containing 8% - 10% of methanol and 90- 92% of n-pentane and second azeotrope bottoms consisting essentially of desired product methyl t-butyl ether; withdrawing said second azeotrope bottoms containing desired product methyl t-butyl ether; contacting said second azeotrope overhead containing methanol and n-pentane in a contacting operation with 3 - 4 parts of water per part of methanol thereby forming aqueous extract containing water and methanol and raffinate containing n-pentane; fractionating said raffinate thereby forming fractionation overhead containing n-pentane and fractionation bottoms containing water; passing at least a portion of said fractionation overhead containing n-pentane to said second distillation operation; rectifying at least a portion of said first azeotrope bottoms containing methanol and at least a portion of said aqueous extract containing water and methanol thereby forming a rectification overhead containing methanol; and passing at least a portion of said rectification overhead containing methanol to said reaction operation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-02-23 | 1979-08-25 | 1980-02-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-02-23 | 1983-08-25 | 1984-02-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-02-23 | 1987-08-25 | 1988-02-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |