Process for removing methanol from alkylation unit feed stream

Claim 2

A process of removing methanol from a mixed stream comprising methanol and at least one hydrocarbon and utilizing the resulting substantially methanol devoid hydrocarbon stream as feed to an acid catalyzed alkylation unit which produces a spent acid stream comprising the steps of: contacting said mixed stream with at least a portion of said alkylation unit spent acid stream whereby said methanol is reacted therewith and an aqueous reaction mixture is formed; separating said aqueous reaction mixture from the remaining hydrocarbon stream; and conducting said hydrocarbon stream to said alkylation unit.

Claim 3

The process of claim 1 wherein said mixed stream is comprised of methanol and various C 4 hydrocarbons.

Claim 4

The process of claim 1 wherein said mixed stream is the overhead condensed hydrocarbon phase comprising methanol, isobutene and other C 4 hydrocarbons produced in the fractionation recovery of MTBE from an MTBE reaction effluent.

Claim 5

The process of claim 3 wherein said spent acid is spent sulfuric acid.

Claim 6

The process of claim 4 wherein said spent sulfuric acid stream contains in the range of from about 86% to about 92% by weight active sulfuric acid.

Claim 7

The process of claim 5 wherein said mixed stream is contacted with said spent sulfuric acid stream in a 1:1 mole ratio of active sulfuric acid to methanol.

Claim 8

A process for recovering MTBE from a reaction mixture containing MTBE, methanol and hydrocarbons, removing methanol therefrom and utilizing the hydrocarbons as feed to a sulfuric acid catalyzed alkylation unit which produces a spent sulfuric acid stream comprising the steps of: fractionating said reaction mixture under conditions which separate an overhead stream comprised of hydrocarbons and methanol and a bottoms stream comprising MTBE substantially devoid of methanol; condensing said overhead stream into a hydrocarbon phase containing some methanol; contacting said hydrocarbon phase with at least a portion of said alkylation unit spent sulfuric acid stream whereby methanol contained in said hydrocarbon phase is reacted with said spent sulfuric acid to form an aqueous reaction mixture therein; separating said aqueous reaction mixture from said hydrocarbon phase; and conducting said hydrocarbon phase to said alkylation unit.

Claim 9

A process for recovering MTBE from a reaction mixture containing MTBE, methanol and hydrocarbons, removing methanol therefrom and utilizing the hydrocarbons as feed to a sulfuric acid catalyzed alkylation unit which produces a spent sulfuric acid stream comprising the steps of: fractionating said reaction mixture under conditions which separate an overhead stream comprised of hydrocarbons and methanol and a bottoms stream comprising MTBE substantially devoid of methanol; condensing said overhead stream into a hydrocarbon phase containing some methanol; contacting said hydrocarbon phase with at least a portion of said alkylation unit spent sulfuric acid stream whereby methanol contained in said hydrocarbon phase is reacted with said spent sulfuric acid to form an aqueous reaction mixture therein; separating said aqueous reaction mixture from said hydrocarbon phase; and conducting said hydrocarbon phase to said alkylation unit.

Claim 10

The process of claim 7 wherein said hydrocarbons are comprised of isobutene and other C 4 hydrocarbons.

Claim 11

The process of claim 7 wherein said reaction mixture is formed by reacting a hydrocarbon mixture comprised of isobutene and other C 4 hydrocarbons and water with methanol in the presence of an acidic ion exchange type catalyst.

Claim 12

The process of claim 9 wherein said spent sulfuric acid stream contains in the range of from about 86% to about 92% by weight active sulfuric acid.

Claim 13

The process of claim 10 wherein said mixed stream is contacted with said spent sulfuric acid stream in a 1:1 mole ratio of active sulfuric acid to methanol.