Graphical abstract
Highlights Model averaging provides the kinetic model taking into account model uncertainty ETBE is formed faster than TAEE in the simultaneous etherification Reactions mechanism is deduced from the proposed kinetic model Active sites are mainly occupied by adsorbed ethanol, ETBE and TAEE Two active sites participate in etherification reactions, and one in isomerization
AbstractA kinetic study on the simultaneous liquid-phase etherification of ethanol with isobutene (IB), 2-methyl-1-butene (2M1B) and 2-methyl-2-butene (2M2B) catalyzed by Amberlyst™ 35 to form ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) and tert-amyl ethyl ether (TAEE) is presented. Isothermal experimental runs were carried out in a stirred tank batch reactor in the temperature range 323-353 K at 2.0 MPa, starting from different initial concentrations. Obtained reaction rates were free of catalyst load, internal, and external mass transfer effects. Mathematical fitting of a series 2 of systematically originated models, model selection, and model averaging procedures were applied to find the best model and to draw conclusions about the reaction mechanism. The selected model involves a saturated catalytic surface with the participation of two active sites in etherification reactions and one active site in isoamylenes isomerization. Apparent activation energies for ETBE formation from IB and EtOH, TAEE formation from 2M1B and EtOH, TAEE formation from 2M2B and EtOH, and double bond isomerization between 2M1B and 2M2B were 72.8±1.4, 74.9±2.8, 81.2±2.2 and, 76.5±7.2 kJ/mol, respectively. The alkenes with the double bond in terminal position were more reactive towards EtOH than 2M2B, with the double bond in internal position.