OXIDATION OF METHYL TERT-BUTYL ETHER (MTBE) AND ETHYL TERT-BUTYL ETHER (ETBE) BY OZONE AND COMBINED OZONE HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE

The aim of this work was to study the reaction of ozone and combined ozone/hydrogen peroxide on oxygenated additives such as methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) in dilute aqueous solution using controlled experimental conditions. Experiments conducted in a semi-continuous reactor with MTBE and ETBE in combination (initial concentration: 2 mmol/L of each) showed that ETBE was better eliminated than MTBE with both ozone and combined O3/H2O2. Batch experiments led to the determination of the ratio of the kinetic constants for the reaction of OH-degrees-radical with MTBE and ETBE (k(OH-degrees/ETBE)/k(OH-degrees/MTBE) = 1.7). Tert-butyl formate and tert-butyl acetate were identified as the ozonation byproducts of MTBE and ETBE, respectively, while tert-butyl alcohol was found to be produced during the ozonation of both compounds.