We have isolated a mixed bacterial culture (BC-1) which is capable of degrading the gasoline oxygenate methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE). BC-1 was developed from seed microorganisms present in a chemical plant biotreater sludge. This enrichment culture has been maintained in continuous culture treating high concentrations of MTBE (120 to 200 mg/liter) as the sole carbon source in a simple feed contai...

The widespread use of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) has caused major contamination of groundwater sources and is a concern due to its taste and odor problems, as well as its toxicity. MTBE can be degraded anaerobically which makes bioremediation of contaminated aquifers a potential solution. Nevertheless, the organisms and mechanisms that are responsible for anaerobic MTBE degradation are stil...

The search for suitable alternative fossil fuel has been a challenge to the research community past two decades. So many alternatives have identified and tested. However, complete replacement cannot be provided without any penalties of cost, excess emission, poor operation, etc. alcohols gave new opportunity solution that problem but had some setbacks increased density lower octane number. pres...

As a result of examinations carried out, 16 strains of microorganisms able to grow on mineral media with methyl tert-butyl ether as the sole source of carbon and energy were isolated. Bacteria prevailed among the isolated microorganisms. The growth of microorganisms under laboratory conditions was long and accompanied by low biomass increase. Under the conditions of the experiment, the isolated...

The Henry’s Law constant was determined for methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) at four temperatures through a new, accurate, and experimentally simple method, based on the work of Gossett (Environ. Sci. Technol. 21:202-208, 1987). The constant was calculated to be 0.032 at 25 °C, suggesting that MTBE is more volatile than previously reported. Analysis of unpublished data collected earlier, using th...

The current investigation was conducted to report on the phytotoxicity of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) to common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. cv. Nebraska) plants. The two-week-old potted plants were subjected to four weekly soil applications of aqueous MTBE concentrations (0, 1, 10, 25 and 50 ml L(-1)). The root growth, flower and pod development were more sensitive to MTBE treatments; while,...

Your recent article panning methyl-tert-butyl ether use (EHP 102:913) was extremely misleading and focused on unpublished, and therefore not critically reviewed data, which is inconsistent with standards of scientific journals. Given the confusion caused by the article, you should provide more accurate information to your readers on why methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) is in gasoline and how it i...

Methyl tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) was first added to gasoline in Europe in 1973 to replace lead as an anti-knocking agent and as an octane enhancer (CAL-EPA, 1998). U.S. EPA approved it as a blending component in the U.S. in 1979, to eliminate the use of leaded gasoline. Typical MTBE levels used by refiners were around 2-3% by volume, blended in different proportions to achieve performance standards.