SYNTHESIS OF TERTIARY AMYL METHYL-ETHER (TAME) - INFLUENCE OF INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL MASS-TRANSFER RESISTANCE

An experimental set-up is presented for the measurement of reaction rates in the liquid phase synthesis of tertiary amyl methyl ether (TAME) from methanol and a mixture of 2-methyl-1-butene and 2-methyl-2-butene using an acidic ion exchange resin (Lewatit SPC 118) as catalyst. The reaction was performed in a continuous-flow recycle reactor at a temperature of 333.15 K and a pressure of 1.6 MPa. Determination of the age distribution (F-curve) of the reactor showed that mixed flow is approached at a recycle ratio of R = 10. Experiments were performed to reveal the limits of operating conditions where the various resistances do not affect the rate. In agreement with estimation of Reynolds numbers, hindrance by external mass transfer can be excluded at a volumetric flow rate of 10 ml/min and a recycle ratio of R = 10. The maximum temperature increase of the whole particle resulting from limitation of external heat transfer was estimated to be about 3 K. Variation of the size of resin particles revealed the existence of a critical methanol concentration, above which reaction rates can be determined without influence of internal mass transport phenomena. The maximum temperature increase in the particle was estimated to be 0.3 K.