Oxygenated fuel additives: The formation of methyl vinyl ether and 1,1-dimethoxyethane by the catalysed reaction of acetylene with methanol

Optimisation of the performance of fuels has focused attention on the use of oxygen containing additives to improve octane or cetane numbers. A systematic study of the synthesis of one such additive (1,1-dimethoxyethane) from the catalysed reaction between acetylene and methanol has been carried out. An amorphous catalyst prepared from zinc oxide on silica has been found to be an efficient catalyst with excellent catalytic life. Methyl vinyl ether is the primary product, reacting further via an equilibrium reaction to form dimethoxyethane. The reaction kinetics of the first reaction has been measured at various temperatures as a basis for process optimisation.