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Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the production of fuel additives in which in a first step isobutanol is subjected to a simultaneous dehydration and skeletal isomerisation to make substantially corresponding olefins, having the same number of carbons and consisting essentially of a mixture of n-butenes and iso-butene and in a second step the butene mixture is subjected to etherification, said process comprising:

a) introducing in at least one reactor a stream (A) comprising at least 40 wt % isobutanol, optionally an inert component,b) contacting said stream with at least one catalyst in said reactor(s) at conditions effective to simultaneously dehydrate and skeletal isomerise at least a portion of the isobutanol to make a mixture of n-butenes and iso-butene,c) removing the inert component if any, recovering from said reactor(s) a stream (B) comprising a mixture of n-butenes and iso-butene,d) sending the stream (B) to at least one etherification reactor and contacting stream (B) with at least one catalyst in said etherification reactor(s), in the presence of ethanol and/or methanol, at conditions effective to produce ETBE and/or MTBE respectively,e) recovering from said etherification reactor a stream (E) comprising essentially ETBE and/or MTBE, unreacted butenes, heavies, optionally unreacted ethanol and/or methanol respectively,f) fractionating stream (E) to recover ETBE and/or MTBE.

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First Claim