METHOD OF SEPARATING ISOBUTENE FROM LINEAR BUTENES Russian patent published in 2004 - IPC

FIELD: petrochemical process. SUBSTANCE: isobutane is fractioned to substantially remove butenes present if mixed hydrocarbon stream containing 1-butene, 2-butene, and small amounts of butadiene. Mixed hydrocarbon stream is fed into reactor provided with distillation column containing alumina-supported PdO catalyst. The column is operated such as to prevent contact of 2-butene with catalyst and to maintain contact of 1-butene with catalyst to catalyze isomerization of the latter into 2-butene. 2-Butene is distilled off catalyst in order to shift the equilibrium so raising amount of 2-butene available. Simultaneously, isobutene and isobutane are separated from 2-butene. Any butadiene present in raw material is hydrogenized into butanes. Bottom residue is enriched with 2-butene. EFFECT: increased purity of separated isobutene. 14 cl, 1 dwg, 1 tbl