Adsorption and Abiotic Transformation of Methyl tert-Butyl Ether through Acidic Catalysts

The fuel additive methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is sometimes considered to be a recalcitrant compound in groundwater. Due to MTBE’s relatively poor adsorption and low volatility, interest is growing in new remediation methods which provide an alternative to using activated carbon or stripping techn...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of environmental engineering (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2007-08, Vol.133 (8), p.827-833
Main Authors: Fischer, Axel, Oehm, Claudia, Selle, Michael, Werner, Peter
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Biological and physicochemical phenomena
Exact sciences and technology
Groundwaters
Natural water pollution
Pollution
TECHNICAL PAPERS
Water treatment and pollution
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Summary:The fuel additive methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is sometimes considered to be a recalcitrant compound in groundwater. Due to MTBE’s relatively poor adsorption and low volatility, interest is growing in new remediation methods which provide an alternative to using activated carbon or stripping techniques. This study addresses the abiotic degradation (hydrolysis) of MTBE to the intermediate tert-butanol (TBA). Two selected materials with acidic properties were shown to hydrolyze MTBE in batch tests at moderate pH values. The sorption of MTBE and TBA was estimated with Freundlich isotherms. Isotherms and TBA formation were used to calculate MTBE degradation. In another experiment, TBA was degraded aerobically by microorganisms. Since TBA seems to be more easily available as a carbon source to microorganisms than MTBE, the catalytic transformation of MTBE to TBA and methanol could enhance the natural attenuation of MTBE.
ISSN:0733-9372
1943-7870
DOI:10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9372(2007)133:8(827)