• Journal of the Korean GEO-environmental Society
• /
• v.11 no.4
• /
• pp.43-50
• /
• 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 Engineering Research
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.179-184
• /
• 2012

The light absorbance of photocatalysts and reaction kinetics of environmental pollutants at the liquid-solid and gas-solid interfaces differ from each other. Nevertheless, many previous photocatalytic studies have applied the science to aqueopus applications without due consideration of the environment. As such, this work reports the surface and morphological characteristics and photocatalytic activities of carbon-embedded (C-$TiO_2$) photocatalysts for control of gas-phase methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) under a range of different operational conditions. The C-$TiO_2$ photocatalysts were prepared by oxidizing titanium carbide powders at $350^{\circ}C$. The characteristics of the C-$TiO_2$ photocatalysts, along with pure TiC and the reference pure $TiO_2$, were then determined by X-ray diffraction, scanning emission microscope, diffuse reflectance ultraviolet-visible-near infrared (UV-VIS-NIR), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The C-$TiO_2$ powders showed a clear shift in the absorbance spectrum towards the visible region, which indicated that the C-$TiO_2$ photocatalyst could be activated effectively by visible-light irradiation. The MTBE decomposition efficiency depended on operational parameters, including the air flow rate (AFR), input concentration (IC), and relative humidity (RH). As the AFRs decreased from 1.5 to 0.1 L/min, the average efficiencies for MTBE increased from 11% to 77%. The average decomposition efficiencies for the ICs of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 ppm were 77%, 77%, 54%, and 38%, respectively. In addition, the decomposition efficiencies for RHs of 20%, 45%, 70%, and 95% were 92%, 76%, 50%, and 32%, respectively. These findings indicate that the prepared photocatalysts could be effectively applied to control airborne MTBE if their operational conditions were optimized.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.289-295
• /
• 2004

The objective of this study is to delineate removal efficiency of the MTBE in solution by $TiO_2$ photocatalytic degradation as a function of the following different experimental conditions: Initial concentration of MTBE, air flow rate in solution, $H_2O_2$ dosage and pH of the solution. Photodegradation rate was increased with decreasing initial concentration of MTBE. The removal efficiency was 82% after 180 min in the case of MTBE concentration of 100 mg/L but 100% after 180 min in the case of 20 mg/L. Removal efficiency was increased with increasing pH, $H_2O_2$ dosage and air flow rate in solution.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.33 no.5
• /
• pp.1693-1698
• /
• 2012

A headspace gas chromatographic mass spectrometric (GC-MS) assay method was developed for the simultaneous determination of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE), $tert$-butyl alcohol (TBA) and benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene (BTEX) in soil contaminated with gasoline. 2 g of soil sample were placed in a 10 mL headspace vial filled with 5 mL of phosphoric acid solution (pH 3) saturated with NaCl, and the solution was spiked with fluorobenzene as an internal standard and sealed with a cap. The vial was heated in a heating block for 40 min at $80^{\circ}C$. The detection limits of the assay were 0.08-0.12 ${\mu}g$/kg for the analytes. For five independent determinations at 10 and 50 ${\mu}g$/kg, the relative standard deviations were less than 10%. The method was used to analyze fifty six soil samples collected from various regions contaminated with gasoline in Korea. The developed method may be valuable for the monitoring of the analytes in soil.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Soil and Groundwater Environment Conference
• /
• 2000.05a
• /
• pp.92-95
• /
• 2000

A mixed bacterial culture capable of mineralizing methyl tort-butyl ether (MTBE), other fuel oxygenates ethers, tertiary carbon alcohols, benzene and toluene was used to inoculate batch reactor and sequence batch reactor (SBR) to treat gasoline contaminated ground water containing about 60 mg/L MTBE, 5 mg/L benzene, 5 mg/L toluene, and low concentrations of several other aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Respirometery studies showed that MTBE degrading mixed culture could treat MTBE contaminated ground water with addition of nitrogen and phosphate. SBR was operated to demonstrate the feasibility of using suspended growth activated system for the treatment of ground water and to confirm that the respirometry derived kinetics and stoichiometric coefficients were useful for predicting reactor performance. Theoretical performance of the reactor was predicted using mathematical models calibrated with biokinetic parameters derived from respirometry studies.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.34 no.4
• /
• pp.874-882
• /
• 2017

As the interest on the air-pollution is gradually rising up at home and abroad, automotiv e and fuel researchers have been working on the exhaust emission reduction from vehicles through a lot of approaches, which consist of new engine design, innovative after-treatment systems, using clean (eco-friendly alternative) fuels and fuel quality improvement. This research has brought forward three main issues : evaporative, performance, air pollution. In addition, researcher studied the environment problems of the bio-ethanol, bio-butanol, bio-ETBE (Ethyl Tertiary Butyl Ether), MTBE (Methyl Tert iary Butyl Ether) fuel contained in the fuel as octane number improver. The researchers have many dat a about the health effects of ingestion of octane number improver. However, the data support the con clusion that octane number improver is a potential human carcinogen at high doses. Based on the bio-fuel and octane number improver types (bio-ethanol, bio-butanol, bio-ETBE, MTBE), this paper dis cussed the influence of gasoline fuel properties on the evaporative emission characteristics. Also, this p aper assessed the acceleration and power performance of gasoline vehicle for the bio-fuel property. As a result of the experiment, it was found that all the test fuels meet the domestic exhaust gas standards, and as a result of measurement of the vapor pressure of the test fuels, the bio - ethanol : 15 kPa and the biobutanol : 1.6 kPa. thus when manufacturing E3 fuel, Increasing the biobutanol content reduces evaporation gas and vapor pressure. In addition, Similar accelerating and powering performance was shown for the type of biofuel and when bio-butanol and bio-ethanol were compared accelerated perf ormance was improved by about 3.9% and vehicle power by 0.8%.

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

• Proceedings of the Korean Environmental Sciences Society Conference
• /
• 2008.11a
• /
• pp.110-113
• /
• 2008

최근 가시광선에서 응답하는 광촉매를 이용하여 저농도의 일반적인 실내 대기 오염물질 제어를 위한 적용가능성에 대해 많은 평가가 있어왔다. 가시광선에서 활성을 보이는 질소 원소가 도핑된 TiO$_2$광촉매를 이용하여 대표적인 휘발성유기화합물질들 중에 하나인 MTBE의 분해율에 대한 실험을 실시하였다. 본 연구에서 여러 가지 변수들 중에 농도와 상대습도에 따라 MTBE의 분해율에 대하여 실험하였으며, 본 연구의 실험조건하에서 질소가 도핑된 TiO$_2$ 광촉매를 통해서 효과적으로 MTBE가 제거됨을 확인 할 수 있었다.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Groundwater Environment
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.55-58
• /
• 2000

Methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) is a gasoline additive that boosts the oxygen content in fuel (an oxygenate), resulting in less air-polluting carbon monoxide being released from vehicle exhaust systems. Then, groundwater contamination problems have been developed in areas where the chemical is used. Common sources of water contamination by MTBE include leaking underground gasoline storage tanks and leaks and spills from above ground fuel storage tanks, etc.. Studies on the chemical and these problems are going on abroad vigorously. These studies should be performed in our country as well more actively. This paper reviews on articles on these studies and focuses on the identification of the chemical as a groundwater contamination source.

• Journal of the Korean Chemical Society
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.135-142
• /
• 1989

Methyl tert-butyl ether(MTBE) was synthesized from vapor phase reaction of methanol with iso-butylene over HZSM-5 catalysts, and effects of SiO$_2/Al_2O_3$ ratio in the HZSM-5 catalysts and reaction conditions on products distribution have been examined. Acid strength and acid type of each catalyst with different SiO$_2/Al_2O_3$ ratio were measured using pyridine adsorption followed by temperature programmed desorption(TPD) and IR analysis. Reactants and products adsorption characteristics on different acid sites have also been examined. As the SiO$_2/Al_2O_3$ ratio of HZSM-5 catalyst was increased, selectivity to MTBE was improved as a result of decrease in dimethylether(DME) formation at the strong acid sites. Conversion and selectivity to MTBE were also greatly enhanced as $i-C_4H_8/CH_3OH$ reactant ratio was increased, and overall about 80$^{\circ}$C was adequate for the MTBE synthesis. The properties of deposited coke on spent catalysts were examined by TG, DTA and IR spectrum analysis, indicating the amount of the coke deposit in the order of HY > H-Mordenite > HZSM-5. Even if the coke deposited on H-Mordenite was little more in amount than to that on HZSM-5, the former deactivated quickly due to its non-interconnected channel structure. For HY, owing to its lange pore size, significant $i-C_4H_8$ polymerization was occured, and rapid deactivation and severe coke formation has resulted within few hours.