Application: The CDEtbe catalytic distillation technology processes C4 streams from steam cracker, refining and isobutane dehydrogenation units to produce ETBE.
Description: ETBE is formed by the catalytic etherification of isobutylene with ethanol. The patented CDEtbe process is based on a two-step reactor design, consisting of a fixed bed reactor followed by final conversion in a catalytic distillation column. The process utilizes an acidic ion exchange resin catalyst in both its fixed bed reactor and proprietary catalytic distillation structures.
The unique catalytic distillation column combines reaction and fractionation in a single unit operation. It allows a high conversion of isobutylene to be achieved simply and economically. By using distillation to separate the product from the reactants, the equilibrium limitation is exceeded and higher conversion of isobutylene is achieved. The ETBE produced has a very low ethanol content that does not require additional downstream processing.
Product: The produced ETBE can be blended as a high quality bio-fuel.
Process advantages:
CDTECH’s catalytic distillation offers:
• Improved kinetics
• High conversion (beyond fixed bed-equilibrium limit)
• Low capital cost
• Low utilities
• Long catalyst life with sustained high conversion
• Reduced plot space.
CDTECH’s boiling point reactor offers:
• Simple and effective control
• Elimination of hot spots
• Long catalyst life
• High flexibility
• Low capital cost
• Elimination of catalyst attrition
• Most effective heat removal technique
• Elimination of cooling water requirement.
Licensor: CDTECH
