PURPOSE: To produce an alkyl t-alkyl ether useful as an excellent octane-number improver for gasoline in high selectivity by reacting an aliphatic alcohol with a t-olefin in the presence of a specific catalyst.
CONSTITUTION: An alkyl t-alkyl ether (especially preferably methyl t-butyl ether) is produced by reacting an aliphatic alcohol (especially preferably methanol) with a t-olefin (especially preferably isobutene). The reaction is carried out in gaseous phase at ≤95'°C using a catalyst produced by supporting a heteropolyacid having the composition of the formula and a Dawson-type structure on silica. The catalyst can be produced e.g. by supporting the Dawson-type heteropolyacid having the composition of the formula on silica in an aqueous solution and calcining the product after drying. It is industrially advantageous to carry out the process by flow system.
OKUHARA TOSHIO
SHIKATA SAWAMI
