Acid-Catalyzed Formation of Ethyl-Butyl Ethers in Near- and Supercritical Water

全球甲基叔丁基醚（MTBE， 辛烷值增强剂）预计将达到260亿 1990年代的每一年。 阿科最近的一项研究 得出结论，乙基叔丁基醚（ETBE）是一个更 比MBTE更理想的燃料添加剂。 常规 技术要求发酵乙醇的蒸馏 在合成ETBE之前。 其中一个焦点是 建议是在近- 或超临界水，从而避免昂贵的 精馏 由于ETBE不溶于水， 将ETBE从离开该反应器的水相中分离， 反应堆很容易。 本提案的第二个重点是 酸催化合成乙基丁基混合物 醚（EBE）在近或超临界水中， 发酵产物乙醇和1-丁醇。 混合EBE 应该有类似ETBE的燃料特性， 一种完全可再生的高辛烷值燃料添加剂。 建议的研究强调动力学研究的 酸催化的醚形成机理 超临界水，使用两个活塞流反应器。 动力学 在这项工作中开发的模型将有助于 反应器设计和放大。 这项研究也将有助于 为了阐明动力学可用于 详细机制

The world-wide market for methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE, an octane enhancer) is projected to reach 26 billion pounds per year during the 1990's. A recent ARCO study concludes that ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) is a more desirable fuel additive than MBTE. Conventional technology requires distillation of fermentation ethanol prior to the synthesis of ETBE. One focus of this proposal is the acid-catalyzed synthesis of ETBE in near- or supercritical water, thereby avoiding costly distillation. Because ETBE is insoluble in water, separation of ETBE from the aqueous phase exiting the reactor is facile. A second focus of this proposal is the acid-catalyzed synthesis of a mixture of ethyl butyl ethers (EBE) in near- or supercritical water from fermentation products ethanol and 1-butanol. Mixed EBE's should have fuel properties similar the ETBE, and would be a fully renewable high octane fuel additive. The proposed research emphasizes kinetic studies of the acid-catalyzed mechanism of ether formation in near- and supercritical water using two plug flow reactors. Kinetic models developed during this work will be useful for reactor design and scale-up. This research will also help to clarify the extent to which kinetics can be used to detail mechanism.