What is the octane rating of the MTBE by-product MSBE?

The octane number of MTBE by-product MSBE (methyl tert-butyl ether) is approximately 75-80. Octane rating is a measure of a fuel’s resistance to detonation; the higher the octane rating, the greater the fuel’s resistance to detonation. Although MSBE has a relatively high octane number, there are several reasons why it is not frequently used as a blending component in gasoline: 1. Low production volume: During the production of MTBE, MSBE is generally an unwanted by-product; therefore, its production volume is relatively low. 2. Technical challenges: The preparation of MSBE is complex, and its purification and recovery processes are relatively difficult. Moreover, the production of MSBE involves high energy consumption and costs, making it uneconomical to add it to gasoline. 3. Pollution issue: MSBE may cause certain pollution to the environment. For example, during storage and transportation, MSBE may evaporate into the atmosphere and form pollutants such as ozone. As for the utilization potential of C4 n-butylene after etherification, it can be utilized through other methods. For example, C4 butenes can serve as an important raw material in the petrochemical industry for synthesizing chemicals such as butadiene and isoprene. Therefore, C4 n-butylene after etherification has certain value and potential for utilization. .