Octane catalysts MTBE/TAME

One of several applications of the above catalysts is the production of the high octane ethers, MTBE and TAME, which are increasingly in demand as blend stocks for unleaded gasoline. The concept of the process is outlined in figure 3. Synthesis gas from natural methane would be converted by an alkene selective catalyst. The butene and pentene could then be isomerized by the... 

The application of the method for the synthesis of MTBE, TAME and other octane improvers for gasoline is proposed. An application of the method to branch alkenes synthesised by a selective Fischer-Tropsch catalyst is demonstrated. 

A particularly favourable application would be in the synthesis of MTBE and TAME. The selective reaction of methanol with the branched alkene would enable the straight chain alkenes to be recycled through the isomerization catalyst. Since the methanol for such a process would likely be synthesised from CO and Hg it would be possible to run this process in parallel with an alkene selective Fischer-Tropsch process to achieve a self contained conversion of CO and to a high octane fuel blend stock. 

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