Diethyl ether is a colourless, highly volatile and flammable organic liquid compound. It is also called as ethoxy ethane, ethyl ether, sulphuric ether or simply ether. Basically ethers contain an oxygen atom connected to two alkyl or aryl groups. The general formula of ether group is R-O-R’ . Ethers are typical in organic and biochemistry, because they are common links in lignin and carbohydrates. Technical grade and anaesthetic grade are the two grades of ethers available for commercial use. Technical grade ethers are standard and don’t contain any peroxides. Anaesthetic grade must pass through the test for aldehydes and peroxides. They have natural reactions and foreign odour. Also have a water content of 0.2% or below.
In 1540, valerius cordia was the first to produce diethyl ether, through the distillation of ethanol and sulphuric acid. Diethyl ether can be produced in laboratory and on the industrial scale through acid ether synthesis. It is mostly produced as a by product of the vapour phase hydration of ethylene to ethanol with the use solid phase phosphoric acid catalyst.
Ethanol is mixed with sulphuric acid or any other strong acid, which split them into smaller particles, producing hydronium ions. A hydrogen ion gives ethanol molecule, a positive charge. Then the nucleophilic oxygen atom of ethanol displaces a water molecule to make water a hydrogen ion and the diethyl ether. The reaction must occur at temperature below 303°F
by:
Hari Haran Sudhakar
B.Tech Chemical engineering 2nd year
Chemnation 
Leave a comment