FIELD: chemistry.
SUBSTANCE: application describes a method of producing dimethyl ether from gaseous mixtures of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and contamination of methyl acetate, involving reaction of a gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and contamination of methyl acetate in the first treatment zone with a first portion of methanol to recover a purified gaseous mixture which is depleted of methyl acetate, and a first stream of used methanol containing methyl acetate; reacting the purified gaseous mixture in a second purification zone with a second portion of methanol to recover a purified gaseous mixture further impoverished with methyl acetate, and a second flow of used methanol which does not contain methyl acetate or contains a reduced amount of methyl acetate compared to the first methanol stream used; dehydrating at least a portion of the second flow of used methanol in the presence of at least one catalyst to obtain a crude dehydration reaction product containing dimethyl ether, unreacted methanol and water; extracting a water stream from the crude product, mainly containing water and 3 mol. % of acetic acid or less, and a stream of dimethyl ether.
EFFECT: disclosed is a method of producing dimethyl ether from gaseous mixtures of carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methyl acetate.
19 cl, 2 tbl, 1 dwg
