The rapid detection of methyl tert-butyl ether (MtBE) in water using a prototype gas sensor system

The gasoline additive Methyl-tertiary-Butyl Ether (MtBE) is the second most common contaminant of groundwater in the USA and represents an important soil contaminant. This compound has been detected in the groundwater in at least 27 states as a result of leaking underground storage facilities (gasol...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water science and technology 2005-01, Vol.52 (8), p.117-123
Main Authors: DE LACY COSTELLO, B. P. J, SIVANAND, P. S, RATCLIFFE, N. M, REYNOLDS, D. M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Additives
Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding
Applied sciences
Biological and medical sciences
Contaminants
Detection
Drinking water
Environment. Living conditions
Environmental Monitoring - instrumentation
Environmental Monitoring - methods
Exact sciences and technology
Gas pipelines
Gasoline
Groundwater
Medical sciences
Metals
Metals - chemistry
Methyl Ethers - analysis
MTBE
Natural gas
Oxides - chemistry
Pollution
Prototypes
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Sensor arrays
Sensors
Soil
Soil contamination
Soil pollution
Storage facilities
Storage tanks
Submarine pipelines
Surface water
Underground storage
Underground storage tanks
Water - chemistry
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water supply
Water treatment and pollution
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Summary:The gasoline additive Methyl-tertiary-Butyl Ether (MtBE) is the second most common contaminant of groundwater in the USA and represents an important soil contaminant. This compound has been detected in the groundwater in at least 27 states as a result of leaking underground storage facilities (gasoline storage tanks and pipelines). Since the health effects of MtBE are unclear the potential threat to drinking water supplies is serious. Therefore, the ability to detect MtBE at low levels (ppb) and on-line at high-risk groundwater sites would be highly desirable. This paper reports the use of 'commercial' and metal oxide sensor arrays for the detection of MtBE in drinking and surface waters at low ppb level (microg.L(-1) range). The output responses from some of the sensors were found to correlate well with MtBE concentrations under laboratory conditions.
ISSN:0273-1223
1996-9732
DOI:10.2166/wst.2005.0239