MTBE In Gasoline

[KaosBanshee44]

So i work in a Petroleum Chemical Laboratory and i test chemicals all day. MTBE (Methyl tert-butyl ether) is what they used to put in Gasoline a long time ago. It was being used as a fuel additive. Because of widespread releases of MTBE-containing gasoline from Underground Storage Tanks all over the US, various jurisdictions banned the use of MTBE and production was reduced.

 

So my question is don't MTBE make gasoline burn cleaner and reduce the heat? Why isn't people trying to get some of this and mix with there fuel say for example there banshee?

[05DuramaxDiesel]

So i work in a Petroleum Chemical Laboratory and i test chemicals all day. MTBE (Methyl tert-butyl ether) is what they used to put in Gasoline a long time ago. It was being used as a fuel additive. Because of widespread releases of MTBE-containing gasoline from Underground Storage Tanks all over the US, various jurisdictions banned the use of MTBE and production was reduced.

 

So my question is don't MTBE make gasoline burn cleaner and reduce the heat? Why isn't people trying to get some of this and mix with there fuel say for example there banshee?

 

 

My question is what MTBE actually does for you and what did it do to the environment that they decided to stop adding it.

[KaosBanshee44]

My question is what MTBE actually does for you and what did it do to the environment that they decided to stop adding it.

 

We use it to run certain test on a GCMS (Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry) Which is why we still have it in the lab. They stopped making it because MTBE acts as an emulsifier, increasing the solubility of other, harmful components of gasoline (for example, the known carcinogen benzene). It thus may increase the risk of contamination by other compounds. MTBE is biodegraded very slowly, remaining in water for decades or more. In addition some MTBE degrades in blood to the associated alcohol, tert-butanol, with a greatly increased residence time.

[05DuramaxDiesel]

Doesnt sound too good.