Equilibrium constants for methyl tert-butyl ether liquid-phase synthesis

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/je00007a019

Equillibrium constants for the liquid-phase synthesis of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) were determined experimentally in the temperature range 40-80°C. Equilibrium was established in the methanol addition to isobutylene for obtaining MTBE over the sulfonic acid resin. Lewatt SPC 118 as the catalyst in a batch reactor maintained at 1.6 MPa. The experimental equilibrium constant is given as a function of temperature, and enthalpy, free energy, and entropy changes have been determined as well. At 298 K, ΔH° = -38.0 ± 0.8 kJ mol^-1, ΔG° = -13.6 ± 0.8 kJ mol^-1, and ΔS° = -81.7 ± 0.5 J mol^-1 K^-1. The UNIFAC estimates of activity coefficients have been used to describe the liquid-phase nonideality. A comparison of experimental, thermodynamic, and literature data has been carried out.