GB498232A - Process for converting ethyl alcohol into a combustible volatile liquid containing ether - Google Patents

Abstract

A combustible volatile liquid containing ether is obtained by passing alcohol vapours containing up to 15 per cent of water at a temperature between 150 and 300 DEG C. and in the absence of an oxidizing gas over a single catalyst which consists of a double salt or a mixture of the two constituents thereof, but excluding salts both cations of which are alkali metals or bases, and which reacts with alcohol and ethylene to form intermediate products acting as catalysts for the production of ether from alcohol and ethylene: an oxide carrier having a catalytic action, e.g. aluminium, glucinum, iron or chromium oxides: and an activating agent such as silver sulphate or silver ethyl sulphate, preferably in very low proportion by weight. The double salt may be an alum or a double chloride, e.g. of magnesium and potassium. Examples are given of various catalyst compositions. After removing air from the reaction vessel, alcohol vapours are passed through and the products freed from sulphur compounds by passage through a tower filled with scrap-copper. They are then freed from higher boiling compounds in a dephlegmator and finally condensed to yield a mixture of water, alcohol and ether, boiling between 40-80 DEG C. and having a specific gravity of 0,718-0,780. The product may be used as a fuel in internal-combustion engines. Specification 445,963, [Group IV], is referred to.ALSO:A combustible volatile liquid containing ether is obtained by passing alcohol vapours containing up to 15 per cent of water at a temperature between 150 and 300 DEG C. and in the absence of an oxidizing gas over a single catalyst which consists of a double salt or a mixture of the two constituents thereof, but excluding salts both cations of which are alkali metals or bases, and which reacts with alcohol and ethylene to form intermediate products acting as catalysts for the production of ether from alcohol and ethylene; an oxide carrier having a catalytic action, e.g. aluminium glucinium, iron, or chromium oxides; and an activating agent such as silver sulphate or silver ethyl sulphate, preferably in very low proportion by weight. The double salt may be an alum or a double chloride, e.g. of magnesium and potassium. Examples are given of various catalyst compositions. After removing air from the reaction vessel, alcohol vapours are passed through and the products freed from sulphur compounds by passage through a tower filled with scrap-copper. They are then freed from higher boiling compounds in a dephlegmator and finally condensed to yield a mixture of water, alcohol and ether, boiling between 40-80 DEG C. and having a specific gravity of 0,718-0,780. The product may be used as a fuel in internal-combustion engines. Specification 445,963 is referred to.