HIGH-PURITY DIMETHYL ETHER PRODUCTION PROCESS Russian patent published in 2006 - IPC C07C41/09 C07C43/04 

FIELD: industrial organic synthesis.

SUBSTANCE: high-purity dimethyl ether is obtained via dehydration of methanol in presence of sulfo-ionite catalyst at 110-150^°C and pressure 4.9-13.2 atm gauge in combined reaction-rectification apparatus composed of two rectification zone and one middle reaction zone filled with catalyst. Methanol is fed to catalyst zone or to lower rectification zone. It is possible to dispose reaction and rectification zone both inside the same apparatus and separately in two or three apparatuses so to conduct a single reaction-rectification process. Desired ether is recovered from the top of apparatus. A part of dimethyl ether containing impurities is discharged from lower part of higher reaction zone in side withdrawal point corresponding to 1-10 theoretical plate (going from the bottom of rectification column).

EFFECT: improved quality of product.

2 cl, 3 dwg, 3 ex