• Journal of Environmental Policy
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.75-90
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• 2002

Methyl tertiary-butyl ether(MTBE) is used as an octane enhancer in gasoline. MTBE can enter the environment at any stage in the production, storage, and transport of undiluted MTBE or MTBE-blended gasoline. Although data on concentrations of MTBE in the environment are not available, modelling of fate of MTBE has provided predictions for concentrations of MTBE in the various media to which humans and other organisms may be exposed. Many individuals do not taste or smell MTBE at the $5{\mu}g/L$ level, and thus may be exposed to higher concentrations for a significant amount of time. MTBE exposure through inhalation is likely to be below health-threatening levels, except for occupational workers such as gasoline station attendants and auto mechanics. It should be stressed, however, that there are important data gaps in our understanding of the acute and chronic toxicity of MTBE. Little or no research concern including being conducted that directly addresses these issues. Rather than any immediate ban on MTBE, I recommend consideration of phasing out MTBE in USA and other countries. During the transition phase, a number of policies are suggested to reduce the risk of using MTBE. One of these policies is that the state should invest in a research program. Such research should, for example, examine effective alternatives for motor vehicle fuels, and detect concentrations of MTBE in ambient air, water, and other environmental media.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.43-50
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• 2010

In this study, we have isolated MTBE utilizing bacteria at the gasoline contaminated soil and also MTBE degradation patterns were characterized. The 18 bacterial mono-cultures isolated from enrichment cultures were screened for MTBE degradation. Of the 18 strains, the 3 strains (Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas, and Achromobacter) have shown effective MTBE degradation. Experimental parameters affecting the growth conditions (such as temperature, pH, initial cell mass) were optimized. Experimental parameters such as temperature $30^{\circ}C$, pH 7, and initial cell mass 0.6 g/mL in optimal growth conditions for MTBE degradation. The optimal growth conditions of the isolated stains were temperature $30^{\circ}C$, pH 7, and initial cell mass 0.6 g/mL in our experiment, respectively. The first order degradation coefficients of Achromobacter, Mixed culture, Pseudomonas, and Flavobacterium were 0.072, 0.066, 0.047, and $0.032hr^{-1}$, respectively. and also, it could be expressed as a degradation rate considering cell mass (1.302, 1.019, 0.523, and 0.352 mg/TSS g/hr for each microorganism). Although Achromobacter has shown highest MTBE degradation rate, degradation rate for BTEX was relatively lower than other strains. and Mixed culture and Flavobacterium have shown similar degradation pattern for MTBE and BTEX biodegradation.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.21 no.2 s.53
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• pp.93-102
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• 2006

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), an octane booster that is added to the reformulated gasoline, has been a widespread contaminant in aquatic ecosystem. MTBE is a recalcitrant pollutant having low biodegradability. Due to its higher water solubility and low octanol-water partition coefficient, it can be rapidly transported to the surrounding water environment. Also, MTBE is a known animal carcinogen, and is classified as a possible human carcinogen by U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. The adverse effect of MTBE to aquatic biota was widely reported. In Korea, the recent detection of MTBE in groundwater near gasoline filling stations has drawn concern to public health and ecosystem. To address this concern, the effect of MTBE to human health and ecosystem was discussed in this review. Also, ecotoxicity data of MTBE for fish, invertebrates, and algae were extensively compared to estimate the hazard concentration 5($HC_5$) of MTBE as a screening level.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.364-367
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• 2003

In this paper, we have examined the MTBE cometabolic degradation by pure culture, which is isolated gasoline contaminated aquifer. Propane was more effectively utilized as a growth substrate to oxidize MTBE. Specific substrate degradation rate was Increased with increasing initial propane amount. Respiking propane was enhanced and continued MTBE degradation and TBA observation was supported MTBE degradation. The mass balance of MTBE and TBA indicated that MTBE was oxidized to TBA as well as further oxidation of TBA.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.31-41
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• 2001

In this study, we have examined the potential degradation of MTBE(methyl tert-butyl ether) by pure culture ENV425 and mixed culture obtained from gasoline contaminated soil using n-butane as the sources of carbon and energy. The results described in this study suggest that MTBE is degraded cometabolically by ENV425 and mixed culture grown on n-butane. Butane and MTBE degradation was completely inhibited by acetylene, which indicated that both substrates were degraded by butane monooxygenase. These cultures grown on n-butane generated TBA (tert-butyl alcohol) as a metabolite of MTBE oxidation. TBA Production was accounted 54.7% and 58.6% for MTBE oxidation by ENV425 and mixed culture, respectively. In resting cell experiments, however, TBA and TBF were detected as the oxidation products of MTBE by ENV425 and mixed culture. The observed maximal MTBE degradation rates were 52.3 and 62.3 (nmol MTBE degraded/hr/mg TSS) by ENV425 and mixed culture, respectively, and the observed maximal transformation yields ($T_y$) were 44.7 and 34.0 (nmol MTBE degraded/$\mu$mol n-butane utilized), and the observed maximal transformation capacities ($T_c$) were 199 and 226 ($\mu$mol MTBE degraded/mg TSS used).

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2001.04a
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• pp.136-139
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• 2001

In this study, we have examined potential degradation of MTBE (methy1 tert-butyl ether) by pure culture ENV425 and mixed culture isolated from gasoline contaminated soil using n-butane as the sources of carbon and energy. The results described in this study suggest that MTBE is degraded cometabolically by ENV425 and mixed culture grown n-butane, and the disappearance of TBA after complete degradation of MTBE suggest the further degradation of TBA. Butane and MTBE degradation was completely inhibited by acetylene, which indicated that both substrates were degraded by butane-utilizing bacteria. MTBE was degraded ENV425 and mixed culture grown n-butane, and TBA (tert-butyl alcohol) was produced as product of MTBE oxidation. TBA production was accounted 54.7% and 58.6% for MTBE oxidation by ENV425 and mixed culture, respectively. The observed maximal transformation yield (T$_{y}$) were 44.7 and 34.0 (nmol MTRE degraded/$\mu$mol n-butane Utilized) by ENV425 and mixed culture, respectively.y.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
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• 2003.04a
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• pp.120-123
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• 2003

Immobilization behavior of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) by various cyclodextrins(CDs) was studied to investigate the feasibility of MTBE removal using cyclodexrins. Even though MTBE has relatively low hydrophobicity and higher polarity compared to other organics, it was effectively immobilized by CDs. The immobilization isotherms was shown as a type of Freundlich isotherms, and the immobilization capacity of -CDs was the largest among natural COs. The initial apparent association constant for MTBE-CD complex follows the order : gamma = beta > methyl-beta > hydroxypropyl beta > alpha. These differences of the constants are related to the size of MTBE and CDs. The size of beta-CD and gamma-CD is large to encapsulate MTBE molecule into the cavity, which that of alpha-CB is too small to encapsulate MTBE.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.88-94
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• 2016

The simultaneous biodegradation between MTBE (Gasoline additives) and BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl-benzene, o-Xylene, m-Xylene, p-Xylene) was achieved within a competitive inter-relationship, with not only electron accepters such as nitrate, sulfate, and iron(III) without oxygen, but also with electron donors such as MTBE and BTEX. Preexisting indigenous microorganisms from a domestic sample of gasoline contaminated soil was used for a lab-scale batch test. The result of the test showed that the biodegradation rate of MTBE decreased when there was co-existing MTBE and BTEX, compared to having just MTBE present. The growth of indigenous microorganisms was not affected in the case of the MTBE treatment, whereas the growth of the microorganisms was decreased in combined MTBE and BTEX sample. This may indicate that an inhibitor related to biodegradation when BTEX and MTBE are mixed will be found. This inhibitor may be found to retard the anaerobic conditions needed for efficient breakdown of these complex carbon chain molecules in-situ. Moreover, it is also possible that an unknown competitive reaction is being imposed on the interactions between MTBE and BTEX dependent on conditions, ratios of mixture, etc.

• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
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• v.12 no.9
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• pp.55-61
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• 2011

This study investigate the use of ultraviolet(UV) light with hydrogen peroxide($H_2O_2$) for Methyl Tert Butyl Ether(MTBE) degradation in photolysis reactor. The process in general demands the generation of OH radicals in solution at the presence of UV light. These radicals can then attack the MTBE molecule and it is finally destroyed or converted into a simple harmless compound. The MTBE removal by photolysis were mathematically described as the independent variables such as irradiation intensity, initial concentration of MTBE and $H_2O_2$/MTBE ratio, and these were modeled by the use of response surface methodology(RSM). These experiments were carried out as a Box-Behnken Design(BBD) consisting of 15 experiments. Regression analysis term of Analysis of Variance(ANOVA) shows significantly p-value(p<0.05) and high coefficients for determination values($R^2$=94.60%) that allow satisfactory prediction of second-order regression model. And Canonical analysis yields the stationery point for response, with the estimate ridge of maximum responses and optimal conditions for Y(MTBE removal efficiency, %) are $x_1$=25.75 W of irradiation intensity, $x_2$=7.69 mg/L of MTBE concentration and $x_3$=11.04 of $H_2O_2$/MTBE molecular ratio, respectively. This study clearly shows that RSM is available tool for optimizing the operating conditions to maximize MTBE removal.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.190-198
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• 2008

In this stduy, the column experiments were carried out assuming the soil was contaminated by leakage of gasoline containing MTBE from USTs and pipes around gas stations. Then, characteristics of MTBE transport in the soil were investigated using CXTFIT program. The column experiments with different soil properties, moisture content, organic matter content and flow rate were carried out. Some parameters(D, R, $\beta$, $\omega$) used in two-site non-equilibrium adsorption model were obtained from measuring the MTBE concentration in injection-liquid and in effluent and using CXTFIT program. In addition, The characteristics of MTBE transport in the soil was found using BTCs and obtained parameters. Consequently, the advection decreased as the increase of the content of fine particle and organic, while the MTBE transport by advection was enhanced as increasing flow rate and moisture content.