PROCESS FOR OBTAINING ISOBUTENE FROM A C4-HYDROCARBON MIXTURE

Organization Name

BASF SE

Inventor(s)

Hans-Guenter Wagner of Ludwigshafen am Rhein (DE)

Suman Thotla of Ludwigshafen am Rhein (DE)

Randolf Hugo of Ludwigshafen am Rhein (DE)

Gerrit Waters of Ludwigshafen am Rhein (DE)

Michael Huebner of Freeport TX (US)

Markus Neudert of Ludwigshafen am Rhein (DE)

Thomas Roussiere of Ludwigshafen am Rhein (DE)

PROCESS FOR OBTAINING ISOBUTENE FROM A C4-HYDROCARBON MIXTURE - A simplified explanation of the abstract

This abstract first appeared for US patent application 18280687 titled 'PROCESS FOR OBTAINING ISOBUTENE FROM A C4-HYDROCARBON MIXTURE

The invention described in the abstract is a process for obtaining isobutene from an isobutene-containing C4-hydrocarbon mixture in a plant with specific units for different stages of the process.

Contacting the C4-hydrocarbon mixture with a primary alcohol and reacting them in the presence of an acidic catalyst to form alkyl tert-butyl ether and diisobutene in the etherification unit.
Distilling the reaction mixture from the etherification unit in the first distillation unit to separate C4-hydrocarbon raffinate, alkyl tert-butyl ether, and diisobutene.
Reacting the vaporous bottom product from the first distillation unit to obtain isobutene and the primary alcohol in the ether cleavage unit.
Distilling the reaction mixture from the ether cleavage unit in the second distillation unit to separate isobutene, primary alcohol, and diisobutene for recycling.
Separating a diisobutene product stream rich in diisobutene from the feed stream in the byproduct separation unit.

Potential Applications: - Production of isobutene for various industrial applications such as fuel additives, polymers, and lubricants. - Recycling and utilization of diisobutene as a valuable byproduct in chemical processes.

Problems Solved: - Efficient conversion of C4-hydrocarbons into valuable products like isobutene and diisobutene. - Minimization of waste and optimization of resource utilization in the production process.

Benefits: - Increased yield of isobutene from C4-hydrocarbon mixtures. - Cost-effective production process with recycling of byproducts. - Enhanced sustainability by reducing waste generation.

Commercial Applications: "Isobutene Production Process from C4-Hydrocarbons: Market Implications and Industrial Uses"

Frequently Updated Research: Ongoing research on catalyst development for improved efficiency in isobutene production processes.

Questions about Isobutene Production Process: 1. How does the isobutene production process contribute to the sustainability of chemical manufacturing? 2. What are the key factors influencing the efficiency of isobutene production from C4-hydrocarbon mixtures?

Original Abstract Submitted

The invention relates to a process for obtaining isobutene from an isobutene containing C4-hydrocarbon mixture () in a plant comprising an etherification unit (), a first distillation unit (), an ether cleavage unit () and a second distillation unit (), the process comprising: (a) contacting the C4-hydrocarbon mixture () with a primary alcohol () and reacting the mixture with the primary alcohol in the presence of an acidic catalyst to form the corresponding alkyl tert-butyl ether as an intermediate product and diisobutene as a by-product in the etherification unit (): (b) distilling the reaction mixture () from the etherification unit () in the first distillation unit (), a C4-hydrocarbon raffinate being withdrawn as the overhead product (), the alkyl tert-butyl ether and diisobutene being withdrawn as the liquid or vaporous bottom product (), and vaporizing the bottom product () if it is withdrawn as a liquid: (c) reacting the vaporous bottom product () in the presence of an acidic catalyst obtaining isobutene and the primary alcohol as reaction products in the ether cleavage unit (): (d) distilling the reaction mixture () from the ether cleavage unit () in the second distillation unit (), isobutene being withdrawn as the overhead product (), the primary alcohol and diisobutene being withdrawn as the bottom product () and being recycled to the etherification unit (); the plant further comprising a byproduct separation unit () being fed by a bottom purge stream () of the first distillation unit () and/or by a part of the bottom product of the second distillation unit (), wherein a diisobutene product stream rich in diisobutene is separated from this feed stream ().