Kinetics studies for the production of diethyl ether (DEE) used as unlead gasoline additives

Basic aim of this study is to reduce the negative effects of transportation fuels on the ecosystem and especially on human health by the synthesis of diethyl ether (DEE) for environmentally clean gasoline production. In the first part of the study, Amberlyst-15 catalyst particles were heat treated at different temperatures (403-463K) during 2h and it was determined that, hydrogen ion-exchange capacity of Amberlyst-15 decreases with increasing temperature of the heat treatment. The activity of catalyst was approximately constant up to 453K; then activity decreased steadily when reaction temperature was 463K. It was determined that, Amberlyst-15 is very active for DEE reaction of production and shows stable behavior during the reaction period of 8h. at the temperature range between 403 and 453K. In the second part of the study, DEE was synthesised in liquid phase using a packed-continuous differential flow reactor, over the acidic ion- exchange resin catalyst Amberliyst-15 at the temperature range between 403 and 453K by the dehydrative etherification reaction of ethanol. It was determined that, observed reaction rate and conversion decrease with increasing initial ethanol concentration and increase with increasing reaction temperature. In the last part of the study, the rate parameters of the proposed reaction mechanism for synthesis of DEEIV were estimated by Levenberg-Marquardt regression analysis of the experimental initial rate data at different temperatures. Keywords : Environmentally clean gasoline, DEE, ethanol, dehydrative etherification, Amberlyst-15