METHOD OF PREPARING PRODUCT COMPRISING DIMETHYL ETHER, UP TO 20 WT % OF METHANOL AND UP TO 20 WT % OF WATER Russian patent published in 2000 - IPC

FIELD: chemical industry, more particularly fuel in internal combustion engines. SUBSTANCE: method comprises contacting synthesis gas in one or more reactors with catalyst showing activity both during synthesis of methanol and during dehydration of methanol, and subsequently isolating said mixture formed from technological gas mixture of dimethyl ether, methanol and water. Technological gas mixture is cooled to produce liquid phase comprising methanol, dimethyl ether and water, and gaseous phase comprising unconverted synthesis gas and some resulting dimethyl ether, liquid phase is then passed through first distillation plant where light fraction containing dimethyl ether and methanol is distilled off, and residue remaining after distillation operation and containing methanol and water is removed. After distillation operation, residue is passed through second distillation plant where methanol containing stream is distilled off. Said stream is used for washing gaseous phase in washing plant. Stream of dimethyl ether and methanol is directed from washing plant into reactor where methyl is catalytically dehydrated to dimethyl ether and water in the presence of dehydration catalyst containing dimethyl ether, water and unreacted methanol, withdrawn from reactor, cooled and combined with light fraction from first distillation plant to give dimethyl ether containing product used as fuel. EFFECT: desired product effective as fuel ignited from compression in internal combustion engines. 2 cl, 1 dwg, 1 ex, 5 tbl