Optimizing the Synthesis of Ethyl tert-Butyl Ether in Continuous Catalytic Distillation Column Using New Ion Exchange Resin Catalyst

Abstract Liquid phase synthesis of one of the important fuel oxygenate, ethyl tert -butyl ether (ETBE), from ethanol and tert -butyl alcohol (TBA) has been studied in catalytic distillation column (CDC) using ion exchange resin catalyst CT-145H. A packed CDC of 1.2 m height and 50 mm diameter with indigenously developed reactive section packing was used to generate experimental data. Effect of different key variables on product purity in distillate, was investigated to find the optimum operating conditions for ETBE synthesis. The optimum conditions for 0.2 kg·s −1 of ethanol feed were found: reboiler duty of 375 W, molar feed ratio of 1 : 1.3 of reactants, and reflux ratio of 7. Concentration profiles for each component along each column section at optimum conditions were also drawn. Neither output nor input multiplicity was observed at experimental conditions.