Page 161 - Chemical and process design handbook

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ISO-BUTANE

Iso-butane [(CH ) CH] can be isolated from the petroleum C fraction or
3 3 4
from natural gas by extraction and distillation.
There are two major uses of iso-butane. One is dehydrogenation to
isobutylene followed by conversion of the isobutylene to the gasoline addi-
tive methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE). However, current environmental issues
may ban this gasoline additive.
Iso-butane is also oxidized to the hydroperoxide and then reacted with
propylene to give propylene oxide and t-butyl alcohol. The t-butyl alcohol
can be used as a gasoline additive, or dehydrate to iso-butylene.

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