Comprehensive utilization of isobutane as a raw material
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Process route: Dehydrogenation of isobutane to produce olefins, isomerization of olefins to produce isobutylene； Isobutylene is used to produce MTBE; the remaining ether, along with C4 compounds, goes into the alkylation unit where all the olefins and isobutane are consumed. What is the current efficiency of this process route? Is it possible?
There should be such a process route!
It’s unclear what the energy consumption is for isobutane dehydrogenation
The benefits are related not only to the process route but also to scale; of course, the market holds the deciding factor
Isobutane is converted to isobutylene upon dehydrogenation, so no further isomerization is required.
Normally, n-butane, which can be alkylated, is first isomerized to isobutane; then isobutane is dehydrogenated to isobutylene, which is subsequently converted into MTBE.
From a purely economic perspective, the isomerization dehydrogenation of C4 alkanes requires large investments and yields low returns, making it less profitable than the dehydrogenation of C3 alkanes.
I have a question: if you think MTBE is valuable, why isn’t isobutane separated from the C4 fraction after etherification and reused in isobutane dehydrogenation? If you think alkylated oil is valuable, why not directly use isobutane as the raw material for alkylation?
Well, I just don’t know if such a production process has been implemented, and what the economic benefits are
Well, yes, there is significant financial pressure in the early stages of isobutane dehydration.
It was considered that the isobutane remaining after the separation of C4 fractions could be dehydrogenated, but it is unknown what the economic benefits of such a process would be. Generally, the isobutane content in C4 fractions after etherification is around 40, which is just sufficient to meet the amount of isobutane required for the alkylation reaction