Method for continuously producing tertiary butyl ethers of glycerol

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a mixture of substances comprising a higher tertiary butyl ether of glycerol, comprising the steps: acid-catalyzed reaction of isobutene with glycerol to form a reaction mixture, and extraction of at least part of the reaction mixture from step a by means of at least one solvent, wherein the solvent or the mixture of solvents comprises an ET(30) value of=35.0.

1 . A method for producing a mixture of substances comprising higher tertiary butyl ethers of glycerol, comprising the steps:
 a) reacting an acid-catalyzed reaction of isobutene with glycerol to form a reaction mixture; and   b) extracting at least part of the reaction mixture from step a) by means of at least one solvent, wherein the at least one solvent or a mixture of solvents comprises an E T (30) value of ≦35.0.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a volume ratio of the at least one solvent and the reaction mixture of step a) is within a range of ≦0.8:1 and ≦1.5:1. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a molar ratio of the educts isobutene and glycerol is in a range of ≧1:0.5 and ≦1:5. 
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the a temperature of the reaction mixture of step a) is between ≧60° C. and ≦130° C. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein a conversion is effected at a pressure of ≧10 bar to ≦20 bar. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the acid from step a) has a pKa value of ≦2. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the higher tertiary butyl ethers of glycerol are extracted out of a liquid reaction product by means of a carbon containing stream. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the acid-catalyzed reaction from step a) is a homogenous catalysis. 
     
     
         9 . A fuel, obtainable by a method according to  claim 1 , comprising at least part of the reaction mixture from step a) and at least one solvent. 
     
     
         10 . The fuel of  claim 9 , wherein a use of the fuel includes combustion engines, turbines or combustion plants.