MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS IN REACTIVE DISTILLATION FOR METHYL TERT-BUTYL ETHER SYNTHESIS

A reactive distillation column for the synthesis of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is simulated using a steady-state equilibrium stage model. For identical column and feed specifications, two distinctly different composition profiles are obtained, which correspond to high and low conversion of isobutene. With the aid of residue curve maps for simultaneous physical and chemical equilibrium, it is shown that the high- and low-conversion steady-state composition profiles obtained in the column simulations correspond to residue curves which have their starting points in distinctly different composition regions.