methyl tertiary butyl ether
Quick Summary
Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) is a chemical compound that was historically added to gasoline blends. It was used as an oxygenate to improve fuel combustion and reduce emissions of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. Refiners met environmental standards by including oxygenated compounds like MTBE or ethyl alcohol.1
However, MTBE was later identified as a potential groundwater pollutant when gasoline leaked from storage or pipelines. This led to its ban in several regions of the United States. While regulations for specific oxygen levels in gasoline were removed in 2005, and MTBE is no longer used in reformulated gasoline in the U.S., it is still added to gasoline in other parts of the world.1
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