MTBE
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What are the conditions for the self-polymerization of butene-1 and the condensation with methanol in the MTBE etherification reaction? How to avoid side effects
The self-polymerization of butene-1 is generally unlikely; it is necessary to control the reaction temperature carefully to prevent the bed temperature from becoming too high. Methanol condensation mainly occurs when methanol is in excess; an appropriate alcohol-to-olefin ratio is necessary
The boiling point of the compressed mixed C4 is between -11 and -4°C; the boiling point of MTBE is 55°C, while that of methanol is 64.5°C. However, since methanol in the C4 fraction can form low-boiling azeotropes, during the distillation to separate C4 from MTBE, methanol can be discharged from the top of the tower along with the C4 components as part of these azeotropes, while MTBE is discharged from the bottom of the tower
A low alcohol-to-olefin ratio, or insufficient methanol added in the catalytic distillation column, or low reactor reflux, can lead to higher temperatures in the reactor bed, which facilitates self-polymerization. Choosing an appropriate alcohol-to-olefin ratio can reduce this tendency to self-polymerization； Methanol condensation is caused by relatively large alcohol olefin ratios or excessive methanol addition to the catalytic distillation tower ； The most likely cause for both is an inappropriate alcohol-to-olefin ratio