Researching of efficiency of zeolite containing catalysts and their application in industrial synthesis of ethyl tertiary butyl ether in the contemporary context of JSC "Gazprom neftekhim Salavat"

Abstract

The purpose of this article is researching of chemical process to get an octane–enhancing additive for gasoline by synthesis from ethanol and isobutene using zeolite catalysts. The isobutene are not in the pure state and are contained in the marketable butylene–butadiene fraction produced by JSC Gazprom neftekhim Salavat. This synthesis process proceeds in the presence of heterogeneous catalysts, so for this study authors used a laboratory unit which allows to accurately determine the qualitative performance of zeolite-containing acid catalysts under various parameters of the synthesis process which were as close as possible to industrial conditions. The high degree of process automation and application of precision instruments minimizes the influence of human factors on the accuracy of obtained results. The result of this research is establishment the dependant conversion of isobutene into ETBE from parameters of zeolite catalysts and process parameters of ETBE synthesis, such as pressure and temperature. The most effective zeolite-containing catalyst and conditions for the synthesis of ETBE were determined, which are optimal for this raw material and at the same time ensuring low energy consumption of the synthesis process and high yield of the desired product. For realization of the industrial process for production ETBE using zeolite-containing catalyst, the technological scheme was proposed. This scheme allows to return to the process the ethanol in a cheaper way compared to other existing extraction processes, and also allows to increase the purity of the desired product due to recycle of the ethanol–free hydrocarbons to the rectification zone.