William
Kovarik |
Fuels and Society C: 9. Methyl t-Butyl Ether (MTBE) Production |
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| 10. MTBE Chemistry
Back to: Concept Map
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As a result of the need
to reformulate gasolines once again with the phase out of
tetraethyllead (TEL) , a new synthetic organic substance,
methy t-butyl ether (MTBE), was introduced into the fuel. Beginning with 1976, engines with catalytic converters could no longer burn lead-containing fuels. To obtain the required anti knock and performance characteristics of the fuel, refineries modified the refinery chemistry and developed new additives like MTBE that would boost the "octane number" - the standard measure of performance in gasoline. By the end of the century, more than 300,000 barrels per day of MTBE was being blended into gasoline in the United States. There is no single gasoline composition across the country. Gasolines differ from location to location and from season to season. MTBE is a manufactured product, formed by combining isobutylene with methanol in the presence of a catalyst. It is a flammable liquid that blends with gasoline in all proportions. But it is also soluble in water and this factor prompts concern about contamination of water supplies with MTBE.
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| College of Science and Mathematics Kennesaw State University 1000 Chastain Rd. Kennesaw, GA 30114 770-423-6160 |
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