Synthesis of ethyl isopropyl ether (EIPE) from ethanol and propylene has been studied in both batch and trickle-bed downflow reactors using macroporous cation exchange resins as catalysts. In the stirred batch reactor, the effects of catalyst loading, reaction temperature and pressure, and feed composition were investigated in the temperature and pressure range of 80-120$\sp\circ$C and 700-1000 psi, respectively. The batch reactor data showed that the reaction rate increased with an increase in catalyst concentration and reaction temperature, while total pressure was found to have no effect on the rate under the experimental conditions. In the trickle-bed reactor, the deactivation characteristics of four catalysts (Dowex HCR-w2, Amberlyst-15, supported FCSA and P/Al 0.8) were evaluated at a pressure of 500 psi by temperature sequencing. All catalysts before and after these tests were characterized for total surface area by BET, and for their ion exchange capacity and total carbon content. Insignificant deactivation was observed for the conditions investigated. Dowex and Amberlyst-15 were found to give similar activity and better selectivity in comparison to the other two catalysts. Dowex was found to be the superior resin for EIPE synthesis due to a higher maximum temperature limit and hence a higher overall activity. The study concerning reaction kinetics for EIPE synthesis was carried out using Dowex HCR-w2 as a catalyst. Rate data were collected in the temperature range of 100-135$\sp\circ$C and in a pressure range of 300-650 psi. Under these conditions, propylene was in the gas phase and ethanol was maintained in the liquid phase. The reaction rate data were analyzed using various heterogeneous models based on LHHW-type mechanisms and a pseudo-homogeneous model. Two adequate kinetic models were developed in which either propylene adsorption or surface reaction was the rate limiting step. The apparent activation energies using the heterogeneous and pseudo-homogeneous models were found to be 97.60 kJ/mol and 105.42 kJ/mol respectively. The major by-product from synthesis of EIPE was found to be diethylether (DEE), hence the reaction kinetics for this product were also investigated. The reaction rate data were analyzed based on a LHHW mechanism and a model employing a dual-site, surface reaction rate controlling step was found to give an adequate representation to the observed data. The apparent activation energy for DEE synthesis was determined to be 98.93 kJ/mol. The effect of recycling DEE in order to improve the selectivity of the reaction for EIPE was studied experimentally. It was found that using a DEE:ethanol molar ratio of 1.0 increased the selectivity for EIPE by 10-20%. Deactivation characteristics for the Dowex ion exchange resin were tested in a temperature sequence lasting over 100 hours of continuous operation at the maximum allowable temperature of 140$\sp\circ$C. Coking and/or polymerization was found to decrease both the activity and selectivity of the catalyst.