Ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) synthesis from ethanol (EtOH) and tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) was studied with different macroporous and gelular ion exchange resin catalysts. Purolite(R) (CT-124, CT-145H, CT-151, CT-175 and CT-275) and Amberlyst(R) (15 and 35) ion exchange resins were used for the present work. Effect of various parameters such as catalyst type, temperature, reactants feed molar ratio and catalyst loading were studied for the optimisation of reaction condition. Among the catalysts studied, Purolite CT-124 gave the best results for TBA conversion and selectivity towards ETBE. Kinetic modelling was performed with this catalyst and activation energy and water inhibition coefficient were determined. Heterogeneous kinetic models [e.g., Eley-Rideal (ER), Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson (LHHW)] were unable to predict the behaviour of this etherification reaction, whilst the quasi-homogeneous (QH) model represented the system very well over wide range of reaction conditions. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.