US4827045A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Etherification of extracted crude methanol and conversion of raffinate
Assignee: Mobil Oil AS
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Filing: 1988-04-11
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Granted: 1989-05-02
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Expires: 2008-04-11
Abstract
Abstract An improved process for reacting crude aqueous methanol feedstock with iso-olefinic hydrocarbons to produce C5+ methyl tertiary-alkly ethers, which comprises: contacting the aqueous methanol feedstock with a liquid hydrocarbon extractant rich in C4+ iso-alkene under liquid extraction conditons; recovering an organic extract phase comprising the hydrocarbon extractant and a major amount of methanol introduced in the feedstock; reacting the extracted methanol and C4+ isoalkene in contact with an acid etherification catalyst under catalytic reaction conditions to produce ether product; recovering an aqueous methanol raffinate phase containing the major amount of water introduced with the feedstock and a minor amount of feedstock methanol; and converting methanol from the aqueous raffinate phase to produce hydrocarbons.
Inventors
- 👤 Mohsen N. Harandi
- 👤 Hartley Owen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 16:25
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10L; C10L1/00; C10L1/02; C10L1/023; C07; C07C; C07C41/00; C07C41/01; C07C41/05; C07C41/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
A continuous process for converting crude methanol to methyl tertiary-alkyl ethers comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a crude methanol feedstock containing a minor amount of water with a liquid hydrocarbon extraction stream rich in C 4 + iso-alkene hydrocarbons under extraction conditions favorable to selective extraction of the methanol, thereby providing an extract liquid stream rich in methanol and an aqueous raffinate stream lean in methanol; (b) charging the liquid hydrocarbon and extracted methanol substantially free of water to a first catalytic reaction zone for contact with acid etherification catalyst under etherification process conditions for converting methanol to predominantly methyl iso-alkyl ether; (c) fractionating the etherification effluent from step (b) to recover unreacted methanol and light hydrocarbon overhead and C 5 + methyl tertiary-alkyl ether liquid product; (d) catalytically cracking a heavy hydrocarbon stream and recovering liquid hydrocarbon cracking product, an olefinic liquid hydrocarbon stream containing C 4 + isoalkene; and a light gas stream; and (e) charging said aqueous raffinate stream from step (a) for conversion of methanol to hydrocarbons concurrently with cracking in step (d).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
A continuous process for converting crude methanol to methyl tertiary-alkyl ethers comprising the steps of: (a) contacting a crude methanol feedstock containing a minor amount of water with a liquid hydrocarbon extraction stream rich in C 4 + iso-alkene hydrocarbons under extraction conditions favorable to selective extraction of the methanol, thereby providing an extract liquid stream rich in methanol and an aqueous raffinate stream lean in methanol; (b) charging the liquid hydrocarbon and extracted methanol substantially free of water to a first catalytic reaction zone for contact with acid etherification catalyst under etherification process conditions for converting methanol to predominantly methyl iso-alkyl ether; (c) fractionating the etherification effluent from step (b) to recover unreacted methanol and light hydrocarbon overhead and C 5 + methyl tertiary-alkyl ether liquid product; (d) catalytically cracking a heavy hydrocarbon stream and recovering liquid hydrocarbon cracking product, an olefinic liquid hydrocarbon stream containing C 4 + isoalkene; and a light gas stream; and (e) charging said aqueous raffinate stream from step (a) for conversion of methanol to hydrocarbons concurrently with cracking in step (d).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the acid catalyst comprises ion exchange resin.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The process of claim 1 wherein the feedstock consists essentially of methanol and about 4 to 20 wt% water, and wherein the extraction liquid comprises a major amount of C 4 -C 5 iso-alkenes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
The process of claim 3 including the step of passing at least a portion of said olefinic liquid hydrocarbon stream from step (d) to step (a) as liquid extractant.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4090949A
Cited
US4709113A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-05-01 | 1992-10-31 | 1993-05-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-01 | 1996-10-31 | 1997-05-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-01 | 2000-10-31 | 2001-05-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |