MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether) is a high octane gasoline component with a base octane value RON:115, which is an excellent gasoline high octane additive and antiknock material. MTBE and gasoline can dissolve at any proportion without stratification, and when blending with gasoline components, there is a good harmonic effect and the octane number is higher than its net octane value. MTBE has relatively high oxygen content, which can significantly improve vehicle exhaust emissions.

MTBE is usually synthesized from methanol and isobutene by acidic catalyst. There are three sources of the sources of isobutene.

(1) the C4 fraction of the by-product of cracking ethylene;

(2) C4 fraction from the FCC unit of refinery.

(3) n-butane was prepared by isomerization and dehydrogenation.

Adding MTBE to improve the octane number is the most economical way to improve the gasoline standard, which brings the business opportunity to the development of MTBE, and makes the production capacity of the MTBE industry increase rapidly. This is also related to the shortage of gasoline octane number in most refineries. On the one hand, the production and application of MTBE solves the urgent problem that the current gasoline octane number is not enough to be marketed. At the same time, it also gives the way for by-products of the cracking ethylene plant and the by-product of the FCC unit, so that the resources can be optimized and utilized.

MTBE production technology has the following characteristics:

1. The patented technology of MTBE miscible bed catalytic rectification is mature, advanced and reliable. The quality of the products is stable, and the energy consumption and material consumption are low. The pollution generated in the process of production can be relied on the existing facilities, and will not cause new impacts on the environment. In the process of production, the safety and health of labor are guaranteed.

2. Under the condition of low temperature, the temperature of the reactor is no more than 80 degrees.

3. Using catalytic distillation technology, the conversion rate is over 99%.

4. The one-time investment of the device is small and the operating cost is low.

5. Many refineries in China have MTBE production facilities, with mature design, construction, operation and operation experience.