MTBE

MANUFACTIRIN
G PROCESS
Done By:

Fatima Hussain #60098771

Heba Al-daqour #60094070
Mohammad Jamal #60101310

Dr. Mohammad Nashbat

June 12th 2023

 Table Of Contents
01 02 03
MTBE Purpose & Raw Material Production & Schematic
What is MTBE? The purpose Flow Diagram Of MTBE
What Are The Raw Material? Production In QTR

04 05 06
MTBE Manufacturing & Difficulties Uses & Environment Impact Conclusions
Steps Of MTBE Where We Use? Brief Summery
Challenges Of Production How MTBE Effect The
Environment?
 MTBE
• MTBE (Methyl tert-butyl ether) is a chemical compound
mainly utilized as a gasoline additive to increase and
improve its octane rating and combustion efficiency.

• MTBE belongs to the family of ethers.

• MTBE mainly manufactured by the chemical reaction of

methanol and isobutylene.

• It is a flammable volatile and colorless liquid that

dissolves easily in water.
 Purpose Of MTBE
Combustion Efficiency Octane Rating Oxygenate

• MTBE aids in increasing the • MTBE works as an oxygenate

• MTBE improves the combustion octane rating of gasoline, which in gasoline to reduce emissions
efficiency of gasoline. measures fuel resistance to of harmful pollutants during
pinging or knocking. combustion.

• It enhances more efficient and complete • By increasing the oxygen

fuel combustion in the engine, leading to • High-octane gasoline is used compound, it improves the
improved engine performance, better fuel for high engine performance combustion process and
economy and reduced emissions. and prevents engine damage decreases hydrocarbon and
caused by knocking. carbon monoxide emissions.

• MTBE acts as an octane

booster, aiding gasoline to meet
desired octane requirements.
 Raw Material

• MTBE is produced from methanol and isobutylene materials.

• Both acquired from petroleum refining.

• Methanol is a colorless liquid manufactured through catalytic synthesis

or from natural gas

• Isobutylene is a colorless gas and a byproduct of petroleum refining.

• They react with an acidic catalyst to produce water and MTBE.

● Isobutylene + Methanol → MTBE + Water

 Production Of MTBE In Qatar
A subsidiary of Industries Qatar called Qatar
Fuel Additives Company (Qafac) intends to
increase production of the gasoline additive
MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether) in Mesaieed
and Ras Laffan in response to rising demand
for cleaner fuel.

One of the first businesses to complete an

environmental impact study is Qafac, which is
also building the largest carbon dioxide
recovery facility in the area and the first to
implement the wash oil system in the reactor
output of the MTBE process.
 Schematic
Flow Diagram Of
MTBE
 MTBE Manufacturing Steps
#1 Feed Stock preparation

#2 Reaction

#3 Separation & Purification

#4 Recovery & Recycling

#5 Quality Control & Storage

Feedstock Preparation

The main feedstocks utilized in MTBE manufacturing are methanol

(CH3OH) and Isobutylene (C4H8). Methanol is normally obtained from

coal or natural gases, while Isobutylene is mostly derived from a

catalytic cracking process in a refinery.

 Reaction
• Isobutylene and methanol are combined with an acid catalyst, usually
sulfuric acid (H2SO4) or ion exchange resins, to generate MTBE.
• In a reactor vessel, the reaction is mostly conducted at high temperatures
and pressures.
• The reaction's chemical formula is
• C4H8 + CH3OH > (CH3)3COCH3.
• Water is produced as a byproduct of the reaction between the
Isobutylene and the methanol to make MTBE.
Reaction

C4H8 CH3OH (CH3)3COCH3

Separation And Purification

• After the reaction, the produced mixture contains some impurities, MTBE, unreacted

methanol, Isobutylene and water. So, MTBE should be separated and purified from the

mixture.

• Distillation mainly purifies and separates the components according to their boiling points

• The mixture is heated so that the various components vaporize at different temperature

levels. MTBE is collected as the last, pure, or concentrated stream because of its lower

boiling point.
 Recovery And Recycling

• The unreacted methanol, Isobutylene, and other valuable components not

converted to MTBE during the reaction are typically recovered and recycled

back into the process.

• This aids in decreasing waste and improving general efficiency.

Quality Control And Storage

• The finished MTBE product is subjected to quality control

inspections to ensure it satisfies the requirements, such as purity and

water content.

• Once approved, it can be stored before being moved for distribution,

usage as a gasoline additive, or other uses.

 Challenges Faced In The Production Of MTBE
• Raw material availability – Price fluctuations of
methanol and Isobutylene affect MTBE production.

• Maintaining optimal reaction conditions- Reaction

conditions like pressure, catalyst concentration, and
temperate can affect the product quality of MTBE.

• Separation and purification difficulties- Difficulties

encountered while purifying and separating MTBE
affects the final product of MTBE.

• Safety concerns- An improper safety environment

for MTBE production can affect MTBE's final
product.
 Uses Of MTBE

01 02
Solvent Chemical Intermediate
MTBE is a versatile solvent MTBE is used as a reagent or
used in industrial processes. starting material in chemical
manufacturing.

03 04
Extractive Distillation Oxygenate In Fuel Blends
MTBE helps separate MTBE helps reduce pollutants
chemicals from mixtures by during combustion by improving
distillation. oxygen content.
 The Impact Of MTBE On The Environment

Groundwater Sludge Aquatic Toxicity Human Health Concerns

Air Pollution
 Conclusions
Conclusion 1:
MTBE is used as a gasoline additive that provides clean burning fuel to
reduce the tail gas pollution.

Conclusion 2:
MTBE is typically manufactured in petroleum refineries by reacting
isobutene with methanol over a catalyst.

Conclusion 3:
MTBE can cause difficulty concentrating, headache, nausea, dizziness,
weakness and lightheadedness.
1. Shawn (2017) What you need to know about methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), Naperville
Personal Injury Lawyer. Available at: https://www.collinslaw.com/what-you-need-to-know-
about-methyl-tertiary-butyl-ether-mtbe.html (Accessed: 08 June 2023).
2. Shafiq, Umar & Hashim, Muhammad & Yousuf, Salman & Saeed, Hamza & Mustafa,
Fawad. (2016). Production of 20,000 MTPD Of Methyl Tertiary-Butyl Ether (MTBE) From
Methanol and Butylene by Catalytic Conversion. 10.13140/RG.2.2.21704.32007. References
3. UMass Extension (2018) MTBE (methyl-tertiarybutyl ether) in private drinking water wells,
Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment. Available at:
https://ag.umass.edu/cafe/fact-sheets/mtbe-methyl-tertiarybutyl-ether-in-private-drinking-
water-wells (Accessed: 12 June 2023).
4. Santhosh and Perumal (2013) QAFAC plans to boost MTBE output as demand increases,
Gulf Times. Available at: https://www.gulf-times.com/story/350238/qafac-plans-to-boost-
mtbe-output-as-demand-increases/amp (Accessed: 12 June 2023).
Thanks!
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