GB368868A - Improvements in the manufacture and production of ethyl ether - Google Patents

Abstract

Ethyl ether is manufactured by passing a vaporous mixture of ethylene, or gases containing it, and water vapour at a temperature below 300 DEG C., preferably below 250 DEG C., and at a pressure above 10, preferably above 20 atmospheres, over dehydration catalysts consisting of inorganic or organic acids or anhydrides which are difficultly volatile at the reaction temperatures, in a state of fine distribution on carriers, or phosphates of the rare earth metals. The activity of the catalysts may be improved by the addition of strongly dehydrating substances, e.g. oxides of metals of group 2 of the periodic system, especially zinc oxide, or anhydrous zinc chloride, alums, or phosphates of the alkali or alkaline-earth metals. The amount of water vapour should not exceed 25 per cent by volume of the ethylene. In examples, (1) a mixture of ethylene and water vapour is passed at 200 DEG C. and 125 atmospheres pressure over active carbon laden with phosphorus pentoxide and phosphoric acid; (2) cerium metaphosphate is used as catalyst, the conditions being as in (1); (3) a mixture of ethylene and nitrogen is treated as in (1); (4) a mixture of ethylene and water vapour is passed over active carbon charged with phosphoric acid in a tube lined with copper or silver, the conditions being as in (1); (5) a mixture of ethylene and water vapour is passed at 210 DEG C. and 125 atmospheres pressure over the catalyst of (4). In each example ethyl ether and some ethyl alcohol are produced. Other catalysts specified are sulphuric acid and sulphonic acids such as benzene sulphonic acid. Specification 238,900, [Class 2 (iii), Dyes &c.], is referred to.