New MTBE design now commercial. [Methyl tertiary butyl ether]

MTBE is considered by many to be the most promising octane booster to replace lead in gasoline during the 1980s. MTBE (methyl tetriary butyl ether) is made by combining methanol and isobutylene. The economic attractiveness for making this gasoline component is greatly improved by using a patented catalyst support system to give simultaneous reaction and distillation in a standard carbon steel distillation tower. The description of the process is accompanied by a simplified flow diagram and followed by the description of process variables affecting good reaction kinetics, catalyst life, and corrosion prevention. It is demonstrated that by using the technology described the production of high purity MTBE from dilute refinery streams is now economically feasible.