Page 165 - Chemical and process design handbook

Speight_Part II_B 11/7/01 3:11 PM Page 2.106

ISO-BUTENE

Iso-butylene is made largely by the catalytic and thermal cracking of
hydrocarbons. Other four-carbon (C ) products formed in the reaction
4
include other butenes, butane, iso-butane, and traces of butadiene. The
most widely used process is the fluid catalytic cracking of gas oil; other
methods are delayed coking and flexicoking.
C H → (CH ) C=CH
n 2n+2 3 2 2
Iso-butene is used as a raw material in the production of methyl t-butyl
ether (MTBE, gasoline additive) and butylated hydroxytoluene (an antiox-
idant) as well as for the production of alkylate for gasoline.

2.106