US4731490A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for methyl, tertiary butyl ether production
Assignee: Lyondell Chemical Technology LP
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Filing: 1986-07-23
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Granted: 1988-03-15
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Expires: 2006-07-23
Abstract
Abstract A process for the production of methyl tertiary butyl ether comprising dimerizing ethylene to form a first butene-containing material; isomerizing the first butene-containing material to produce a second butene-containing material including an increased amount of isobutene relative to the first butene-containing material; and contacting at least a portion of the second butene-containing material with methanol at etherification conditions to produce an affluent enriched in methyl, tertiary butyl ether.
Inventors
- 👤 Glenn E. Coughenour
- 👤 Joseph P. Chan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 22:21
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07C; C07C41/00; C07C41/01; C07C41/05; C07C41/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
A process for the production of methyl, tertiary butyl ether comprising: (a) dimerizing ethylene to produce a first butene-containing material which includes less than about 1% by weight butane; (b) isomerizing said first butene-containing material to produce a second butene-containing material including an increased amount of isobutene relative to said first butene-containing material; and (c) contacting at least a portion of said second butene-containing material with methanol at etherification conditions to produce an effluent enriched in methyl, tertiary butyl ether.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
A process for the production of methyl, tertiary butyl ether comprising: (a) dimerizing ethylene to produce a first butene-containing material which includes less than about 1% by weight butane; (b) isomerizing said first butene-containing material to produce a second butene-containing material including an increased amount of isobutene relative to said first butene-containing material; and (c) contacting at least a portion of said second butene-containing material with methanol at etherification conditions to produce an effluent enriched in methyl, tertiary butyl ether.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The process of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises contacting a mixture of said first butene-containing material and at least a portion of a third butene-containing material having an increased butane concentration relative to said first butene-containing material at isomerization conditions to produce a second butene-containing material including an increased amount of isobutene relative to said mixture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 1 which further comprises (d) separating said effluent to recover a methyl, tertiary butyl ether product and byproduct comprising unreacted butenes and (e) returning said unreacted butenes to step (b).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The process of claim 1 wherein a third butene-containing material is fed with the second butene-containing material to the etherification step (c).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The process of claim 4 wherein said third butene-containing material includes an amount of at least one of at least one diene and at least one acetylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the third butene-containing material is contacted with hydrogen at selective hydrogenation conditions to reduce the amount of at least one of said diene and said acetylene in said butene-containing material prior to step (c).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
73 words
The process of claim 5 wherein the effluent from step (c) is separated to recover a methyl, tertiary butyl ether product and byproduct comprising unreacted butenes and at least one member of the group consisting of dienes and acetylenes; the byproduct is contacted with hydrogen at selective hydrogenation conditions to reduce the amount of said dienes and acetylenes; and selectively hydrogenated byproduct is combined with the first butene-containing material isomerized in step (b).
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) | 1991-03-15 | 1991-09-14 | 1992-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-03-15 | 1995-09-14 | 1996-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-03-15 | 1999-09-14 | 2000-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |