Under what conditions can MTBE be cleaved into isobutylene and methanol
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May I ask: Under what conditions can MTBE be cracked into isobutylene and methanol? Is cracking possible in the boiling tower during the MTBE production process?
It should, because all reactions are reversible
The formation of MTBE from isobutylene and methanol is a reversible reaction. However, decomposition reactions are unlikely to occur in the azeotropic distillation column, as the catalyst has high selectivity; the conversion rate is generally around 98%, and as long as this rate does not reach 98%, the reaction continues to proceed in the direction of producing MTBE. Unless the catalyst leaks to the bottom of the distillation tower.
This post was last edited by chengkang on 2009-9-17 at 19:12. Only when the catalyst falls into the bottom of the tower does it increase the reaction rate (it accelerates both the forward and reverse reactions). Since there are no reactants, the reaction proceeds in the reverse direction at this time. Regenerate methanol and isobutylene.
Agree with the view above; although it is a reversible reaction, it can be controlled if no catalyst enters the reactor bottom.
MTBE is cleaved only in the presence of a catalyst, usually a cationic resin catalyst
The person on the third floor said it well; they’re an expert! !
The bound cationic resin catalyst falls to the bottom of the tower; if the temperature of the bed material inside the tower is still high at that time, it will accelerate the decomposition reaction of MTBE.