| abstract |
MTBE can be dissociated with high selectivity to isobutene and methanol over acid action exchange resin catalysts using very high LHSV, e.g. of 7 to 35 at pressure drops of 0.5 to 50 psig through the fixed bed at reaction pressure of 0.5 to 4 atmospheres and bed temperatures in a fixed bed tubular-reactor in the range of 90 DEG C. to 160 DEG C. Good conversions are obtained and undissociated MTBE and by-products of the dissociation may be recycled to a liquid phase MTBE synthesis. |