PROCESS FOR SIMULTANEOUS MANUFACTURE OF PURE MTB AND SUBSTANTIALLY ISOBUTENE-FREE MIXTURE OF C4-HYDROCARBONS

C4-hydrocarbon mixture containing isobutene and excess methanol is reacted of liq. phase-reaction zone packed with a strong, acidic, porous, organic, ion exchange resin under increasing, temperature condn. The reaction products are pure methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTB) and an isobutene-free mixture of C4-hydrocarbons. Mole ratio of isobutene and methanol is 1:2 -1:5. Reaction temp. is 30-100 C; unreacted C4-hydrocarbons are recovered on the first fractionation column under press. of 2-10 bar. Purified MTB is obtained in bottom product of the third fractionator. Following figure describes the schematic flow diagram of this process.