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.

The potential for aerobic methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) degradation was investigated with microcosms containing aquifer sediment and groundwater from four MTBE-contaminated sites characterized by oxygen-limited in situ conditions. MTBE depletion was observed for sediments from two sites (e.g., 4.5 mg/liter degraded in 15 days after a 4-day lag period), whereas no consumption of MTBE was observ...

This study investigated the aerobic biodegradation of methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) by a microbial consortium in a continuous up-flow packed-bed biofilm reactor using tezontle stone particles as a supporting material for the biofilm. Although MTBE is toxic for microbial communities, the microbial consortium used here was able to resist MTBE loading rates up to 128.3 mg L-1 h-1, with remova...

The widespread use of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) as a gasoline additive has resulted in a large number of cases of groundwater contamination. Bioremediation is often proposed as the most promising alternative after treatment. However, MTBE biodegradation appears to be quite different from the biodegradation of usual gasoline contaminants such as benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene (B...

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) has been used in many countries as an octaneenhancing replacement for lead, primarily in midand high-grade gasoline. The prevalent use of MTBE has led to its introduction into environment. MTBE is poorly adsorbed, biologically and chemically stable, making it very persistent in the environment. MTBE has been classified as a possible human carcinogen. Many studies ...

Methyl tert-butyl ether ~MTBE! biodegradation was investigated using a continuously stirred tank reactor with biomass retention ~porous pot reactor! operated under aerobic conditions. MTBE was fed to the reactor at an influent concentration of 150 mg/L ~1.70 mM!. An identical reactor was operated as a killed control under the same conditions. Operation of these reactors demonstrated that remova...

Methyl tert-butyl ether ~MTBE! contamination in groundwater often coexists with benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene ~BTEX! near the source of the plume. Tertiary butyl alcohol ~TBA! is a prevalent intermediate of MTBE degradation. Therefore, there is a significant potential for interference of MTBE and TBA degradation by the presence of BTEX whether treatment is in situ or ex situ. In th...

Aggregate (multiple pathway) exposures to methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) in air and water occur via dermal, inhalation, and oral routes. Previously, physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models have been used to quantify the kinetic behavior of MTBE and its primary metabolite, tertiary-butyl alcohol (TBA), from inhalation exposures. However, the contribution of dermal and oral exposu...

The contamination of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in underground waters has become a widely concerned problem all over the world. In this study, a novel closed culture system with oxygen supplied by H2O2 was introduced for MTBE aerobic biodegradation. After 7 d, almost all MTBE was degraded by a pure culture, a member of beta-Proteobacteria named as PM1, in a closed system with oxygen supply,...

The massive production of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), a primary constituent of reformulated gasoline, combined with its mobility, persistence and toxicity, makes it an important pollutant. It was considered recalcitrant until a few years ago, but recently MTBE biodegradation in aerobic conditions has been demonstrated with both mixed and pure cultures. Mixed cultures are generally the more ...