Inventors:
Carmen M. Yon - Carmel NY
John P. Brady - Algonquin IL
Joe Quock - Hopewell Junction NY
International Classification:
C07C 4106
C07C 4136
Abstract:
A process for the etherification and separation of C. sub. 3 -C. sub. 5 hydrocarbons is improved by the advantageous integration of an oxygenate recovery unit having a 3-bed arrangement into the etherification separation section. A feedstream including C. sub. 3 hydrocarbons and isobutene are reacted with methanol in an etherification to produce an etherification effluent that is separated in a first separator into a bottoms stream of MTBE product and an overhead stream of unreacted isobutane, methanol, other oxygenate compounds and C. sub. 3 -hydrocarbons. After recovery of methanol, in an adsorptive separation process, the methanol deficient overhead stream enters a second separation zone in the form of depropanizer for the separation of isobutane and higher boiling hydrocarbons from the C. sub. 3 hydrocarbons. Any oxygenate compounds that are carried from the bottom of the column with the C. sub.