AM-92-29 COMMERCIAL PERFORMANCE OF THE HOUDRY CATOFINTM PROCESS

Description:

As a result of the ever increasing use of MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) in gasoline for the protection of the air we breath and for octane improvement, MTBE, which is produced by the reaction of isobutylene and methanol, is the fastest growing large volume chemical in the world. Table 1 provides a forecast of MTBE and isobutylene demand. By the year 2000, global MTBE demand 0 is forecast to reach nearly 27 million metric tons per year. While has historically been available as a by-product of cracking and other the economic supply from such sources has been and continues to be to meet the projected requirements. Thus on-purpose production of by dehydrogenation is needed so that the world's demand for clean a octane gasoline can be met.