GB920011A - Production of alkyl esters - Google Patents

Abstract

Tertiary butyl acetate is prepared by contacting isobutene with a mixture of acetic acid containing from 0.5% to 30% by weight of sulphuric acid, adding a paraffin hydrocarbon to the resulting product in a proportion sufficient to form two liquid phases, and recovering the tert-butyl acetate from the paraffin hydrocarbon phase. The isobutene may be pure or admixed with butene-1, -2, butadiene, n-butane and isobutane such as fractions obtained from petroleum cracking. The liquid reaction product may be extracted preferably in countercurrent, batchwise or by recycling at from 15 to 60 DEG C., with the paraffin which is preferably liquid at 18 DEG C. and has a B.P. or B. range above 150 DEG C. Purified kerosene, liquid paraffin B.P., or similar white oil, or a lubricating or other petroleum oil may be used. The hydrocarbon phase is washed with water, and the t-butyl acetate recovered by fractional distillation and purified by a further distillation. The Provisional Specifications include additionally the treatment of esters prepared from olefines of formula, <FORM:0920011/IV(a)/1> for example propylene.