What is MTBE?
Methyl tertiary butyl ether is a gasoline additive that is added to increase the octane number and is produced from methanol and isobutylene. MTBE was the first oxygenated material to be used as a gasoline additive to complete the combustion process. Methanol, which is a major component of MTBE, is often obtained from natural gas and other petroleum products. It is mainly used as a fuel oxygenator. After eliminating tetraethyl lead in the country, the method of oxygenation of gasoline by adding MTBE is used. In fact, we now get the desired octane number by adding MTBE instead of adding tetraethyl lead.
In today’s world, in order to increase the octane number of gasoline through additives, replacement of this material with ETBE is considered. ETBE decomposes earlier than this material and does not pose a carcinogenic risk to this material, it also does not penetrate into groundwater, and if it does penetrate, it is degradable and can be treated.
Humans can be exposed to this material through eating or drinking, inhalation, and skin contact in three ways.
He is threatened that swallowing is the most important way for this substance to enter the human body, mainly through drinking contaminated water.
Is done, while bathing with contaminated hot water also increases its volatility and causes inhalation of this substance.
