Title: Process for producing alcohols and ethers

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Abstract: A process for producing isopropyl alcohol and isopropyl tert-butyl ether from a mixture of light hydrocarbons containing propane and butane, comprises:

(a) separating from the mixture of light hydrocarbons a propane fraction and a butane fraction containing at least n-butane;

(b) isomerizing at least a portion of the n-butane in the butane fraction from step (a) whereby a hydrocarbon mixture containing at least n-butane and isobutane is formed;

(c) catalytically dehydrogenating the isobutane in the hydrocarbon mixture from step (b) whereby a hydrocarbon mixture containing at least isobutene is produced;

(d) catalytically dehydrogenating the propane in the propane fraction from step (a) whereby a hydrocarbon mixture containing at least propene is produced;

(e) reacting the propene in the hydrocarbon mixture from step (d) with water, whereby a mixture containing hydrocarbons and isopropyl alcohol is formed;

(f) reacting the isopropyl alcohol from step (e) with at least part of the isobutene in the hydrocarbon mixture from step (c) whereby a mixture containing hydrocarbons and isopropyl tert-butyl ether is formed;

(g) recycling the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon mixture from step (e) to step (d), respectively;

(h) recycling the hydrocarbons in the hydrocarbon mixture from step (f) to step (c); and

(i) recovering at least the isopropyl tert-butyl ether.