PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ALCOHOLS AND ETHERS

A process for producing isopropyl alcohol and isopropyl tert-butyl ether from a mixture of light hydrocarbons containing propane and butane, comprises: (a) separating from the mixture of light hydrocarbons a propane fraction and a butane fraction containing at least n-butane; (b) isomerizing at least a portion of the n-butane in the butane fraction from step (a) whereby a hydrocarbon mixture containing at least n-butane and isobutane is formed; (c) catalytically dehydrogenating the isobutane in the hydrocarbon mixture from step (b) whereby a hydrocarbon mixture containing at least isobutene is produced; (d) catalytically dehydrogenating the propane in the propane fraction from step (a) whereby a hydrocarbon mixture containing at least propene is produced; (e) reacting the propene in the hydrocarbon mixture from step (d) with water, whereby a mixture containing hydrocarbons and isopropyl alcohol is formed; (f) reacting the isopropyl alcohol from step (e) with at least part of the isobutene in the hydrocarbon mixture from step (c) whereby a mixture containing hydrocarbons and isopropyl tert-butyl ether is formed; (g) recycling the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon mixture from step (e) to step (d), respectively; (h) recycling the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon mixture from step (f) to step (c); and (i) recovering at least the isopropyl tert-butyl ether.