US4423251A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process employing sequential isobutylene hydration and etherification
Assignee: Honeywell UOP LLC
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Filing: 1982-09-09
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Granted: 1983-12-27
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Expires: 2002-09-09
Abstract
Abstract A hydrocarbon conversion process is disclosed which may be used to produce high purity isobutylene and/or tertiary butyl alcohol and methyl tertiary butyl ether. A mixed C 4 feed stream is divided into two portions with a first portion being passed through a hydration zone to produce the tertiary butyl alcohol. The remaining hydrocarbons withdrawn from the hydration zone and the second portion of the feed stream are changed to an etherification zone. The unconverted hydrocarbons exiting the etherification zone may be subjected to isomerization and/or dehydrogenation to produce additional isobutylene. The high purity isobutylene is obtained by dehydrating the tertiary butyl alcohol.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter R. Pujado
- 👤 Bipin V. Vora
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:59
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07C; C07C41/00; C07C41/01; C07C41/05; C07C41/06; C07C11/00; C07C11/02; C07C11/08; C07C11/09; C07C29/00; C07C29/03; C07C29/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A hydrocarbon conversion process which comprises the steps of: (a) dividing a feed stream comprising isobutylene and isobutane into a first portion and a second portion; (b) passing the first portion of the feed stream into a hydration zone wherein isobutylene is converted into tertiary butyl alcohol and producing a first product stream comprising tertiary butyl alcohol and a first effluent stream comprising isobutylene and isobutane; and, (c) passing the first effluent stream and the second portion of the feed stream into an etherification zone wherein isobutylene is converted into an ether by reaction with an alcohol and producing a second product stream comprising the ether and a second effluent stream comprising isobutane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
113 words
A hydrocarbon conversion process which comprises the steps of: (a) dividing a feed stream comprising isobutylene and isobutane into a first portion and a second portion; (b) passing the first portion of the feed stream into a hydration zone wherein isobutylene is converted into tertiary butyl alcohol and producing a first product stream comprising tertiary butyl alcohol and a first effluent stream comprising isobutylene and isobutane; and, (c) passing the first effluent stream and the second portion of the feed stream into an etherification zone wherein isobutylene is converted into an ether by reaction with an alcohol and producing a second product stream comprising the ether and a second effluent stream comprising isobutane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 1 further characterized in that the alcohol is methanol and the ether is methyl tertiary butyl ether.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 further characterized in that at least a portion of the tertiary butyl alcohol produced in the hydration zone is dehydrated to produce isobutylene.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 1 further characterized in that at least a portion of the isobutane present in the second effluent stream is passed into a dehydrogenation zone and converted into isobutylene.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 4 further characterized in that isobutylene produced in the dehydrogenation zone is passed into the hydration zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 4 further characterized in that isobutylene produced in the dehydrogenation zone is passed into the etherification zone.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The process of claim 4 further characterized in that the second effluent stream also comprises normal butane, at least a portion of the second effluent stream is passed into a butane isomerization zone, and isobutane produced in the butane isomerization zone is passed into the dehydrogenation zone and converted into isobutylene.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 7 further characterized in that isobutylene produced in the dehydrogenation zone is passed into the hydration zone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 7 further characterized in that isobutylene produced in the dehydrogenation zone is passed into the etherification zone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
134 words
A hydrocarbon conversion process which comprises the steps of: (a) dividing a feed stream which comprises normal butane, isobutane and isobutylene into a first portion and a second portion; (b) passing the first portion of the feed stream into a hydration zone wherein isobutylene is reacted with water to produce tertiary butyl alcohol and withdrawing from the hydration zone a first effluent stream comprising isobutylene, isobutane and normal butane and a first product stream comprising tertiary butyl alcohol; and, (c) passing the first effluent stream and the second portion of the feed stream into an etherification zone wherein isobutylene is reacted with methanol to produce methyl tertiary butyl ether and withdrawing from the etherification zone a second effluent stream comprising normal butane and isobutane and a second product stream comprising methyl tertiary butyl ether.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
134 words
A hydrocarbon conversion process which comprises the steps of: (a) dividing a feed stream which comprises normal butane, isobutane and isobutylene into a first portion and a second portion; (b) passing the first portion of the feed stream into a hydration zone wherein isobutylene is reacted with water to produce tertiary butyl alcohol and withdrawing from the hydration zone a first effluent stream comprising isobutylene, isobutane and normal butane and a first product stream comprising tertiary butyl alcohol; and, (c) passing the first effluent stream and the second portion of the feed stream into an etherification zone wherein isobutylene is reacted with methanol to produce methyl tertiary butyl ether and withdrawing from the etherification zone a second effluent stream comprising normal butane and isobutane and a second product stream comprising methyl tertiary butyl ether.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The process of claim 10 further characterized in that at least a portion of the second effluent stream is passed into a butane isomerization zone comprising a deisobutanizer column, and at least a portion of the isobutane produced in the butane isomerization zone is passed into a dehydrogenation zone and converted into isobutylene.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 11 further characterized in that isobutylene produced in the dehydrogenation zone is passed into the hydration zone.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 11 further characterized in that isobutylene produced in the dehydrogenation zone is passed into the etherification zone.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The process of claim 11 further characterized in that all of the second effluent stream is passed into the deisobutanizer column of the butane isomerization zone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 10 further characterized in that tertiary butyl alcohol produced in the hydration zone is dehydrated to produce isobutylene.
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) | 1986-12-26 | 1987-06-27 | 1987-12-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-12-26 | 1991-06-27 | 1991-12-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-12-26 | 1995-06-27 | 1995-12-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |