Integrated steam cracker and mtbe production units

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016326079-A1
Application number	US-201515109184-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 2, 2015
Priority date	Jan 2, 2014
Publication date	Nov 10, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described herein are methods and systems for producing methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) by reacting an isobutene-containing stream with methanol in an MTBE production unit. In accordance with the method described herein, at least a portion of the isobutene-containing stream is obtained from a mixed C4 stream from a steam cracking unit and is not produced by passing the dehydrogenation of isobutane. Furthermore, an alkane-containing stream from the MTBE production unit is used as a feed stream for the steam cracking unit.

First claim

I/we claim:

1 . A method for producing methyl tert-butyl ether, comprising:
reacting an isobutene-containing stream with methanol to form methyl tert-butyl ether in a methyl tert-butyl ether production unit, wherein the isobutene-containing stream comprises a mixed C4 product stream from a steam cracking unit; and sending an alkane stream from an isomerization unit of the methyl tert-butyl ether production unit to the steam cracking unit to serve as a feed stream for the steam cracking unit.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the alkane stream contains predominantly a C4 alkane selected from the group consisting of n-butane and isobutane.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predominant C4 alkane in the alkane stream is n-butane.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the predominant C4 alkane in the alkane stream is isobutane.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the alkane stream is treated to remove 1-butene prior to passing through a hydrogenation unit of the steam cracking unit.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixed C4 stream from the steam cracking unit is treated to remove butadiene prior to reaction with methanol.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the mixed C4 stream from the steam cracking unit is treated to remove n-butane prior to reaction with methanol.

8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein said removed n-butane is directed as feed to said steam cracking system.

9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising producing ethylene from cracking of alkanes in said steam cracking system.

10 . A system for producing methyl-t-butyl ether, comprising:
a methyl tert-butyl ether production unit; and a steam cracking unit; wherein an isobutene-containing stream comprising a mixed C4 product stream from the steam cracking unit and which is not produced via dehydrogenation of isobutene is used as a feed stream for the methyl tert-butyl ether production unit; and wherein one or more alkane streams from an isomerization unit of the methyl tert-butyl ether production unit is sent to the steam cracking unit to serve as a feed stream for the steam cracking unit.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the alkane stream contains predominantly a C4 alkane selected from the group consisting of n-butane and isobutane.

12 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the predominant C4 alkane in the alkane stream is n-butane.

13 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the predominant C4 alkane in the alkane stream is isobutane.

14 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the alkane stream is treated to remove 1-butene prior to passing through a hydrogenation unit of the steam cracking unit.

15 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the mixed C4 stream from the steam cracking unit is treated to remove butadiene prior to reaction with methanol.

16 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the mixed C4 stream from the steam cracking unit is treated to remove n-butane prior to reaction with methanol.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein said removed n-butane is directed as feed to said steam cracking system.

Assignees

• Saudi Basic Ind Corp

Inventors

• Leal Guillermo
• Nawaz Zeeshan
• Matarredona Antonio
• Baksh Faisal

Classifications

• B01J19/245

  placed in series · CPC title

• B01J2219/24

  Stationary reactors without moving elements inside · CPC title

• C07C41/06 Primary

  by addition of organic compounds only · CPC title

• C07C4/04

  Thermal processes {(C07C4/025 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• C10G9/36

  with heated gases or vapours · CPC title