Can MTBE catalytic distillation achieve full reflux operation?
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Our MTBE plant consists first of three etherification units, followed by a distillation-etherification process (involving two columns: one for product purification and another for rereaction, in order to further process the isobutylene present in the remaining C4 mixture). I’m sorry; I’m just starting to learn about this topic and don’t understand it very well yet, so I can’t come up with an appropriate name for it. Here are some of my questions, and I hope everyone can help answer them: 1. Regarding the purification of MTBE, it is well known that this is done by azeotroping C4 with methanol and then separating it from MTBE. So in the reflux tank of the reaction tower, should methanol and the remaining C4 be in an azeotropic composition? 2. If the first possibility holds, then the material in the reflux tank, as it returns to the tower, should not have an impact on the azeotropic composition within the tower, since it already is part of that azeotropic composition. 3. If both of these conditions are met, then is it possible to implement full reflux operation for both the distillation tower and the reaction tower? Is it possible to operate in full reflux with a certain amount of MTBE present in the distillation column? 4. Theoretically, I always think this approach is feasible, but I don’t know why it can’t be implemented in practice – a full reflux operation cannot be established. I’m not sure what the problem is; I hope everyone can help resolve it. Could it be due to the volatilization loss of methanol during full reflux operation? But this amount should be very small.
How is it that no one seems to like MTBE? ? Why is no one talking?
Mainly, since our equipment has been operating stably, I really don’t have the means to conduct a full reflux experiment. I hope everyone will be kind enough to offer their advice and help out my buddy
MTBE plants are generally very stable
Setting up full reflux operation for MTBE requires shutting down the system: lol
Is there a catalytic distillation column behind it (divided into an upper and lower column, with the catalyst packed in the upper column)? Performing full reflux operations for extended periods is not feasible; MTBE will not be lost, but C4 and other light components will be lost. Prolonged full reflux will disrupt the gas-liquid equilibrium in the tower; the longer this lasts, the more difficult it is to restore normal conditions.
Won’t MTBE decompose if it’s in full reflux? And what about the subsequent steps? It’s obvious that full reflux isn’t possible, bro
You have nothing to do, so why go back all the way? Moreover, full reflux is definitely not feasible, unless feeding is stopped.
In fact, all those full reflux operations don’t have any special meaning, because after all, no product is produced. I just want to ask whether such a process can actually achieve full reflux operation Has anyone tried it? If full reflux cannot be achieved, what exactly is the cause?
The top of the tower contains inert C4; if all of it is recycled, it not only increases the load on the catalytic distillation tower but also disrupts the vapor-liquid equilibrium
Is the entire top of the tower C4? Shouldn’t it be an azeotrope of C4 and methanol? So I always think that it should be possible to establish a full reflux operation.