CE 521 Environmental Biotechnology

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Term Paper Abstracts (Fall 2000):

Biodegradation of Methyl tert-Butyl Ether: Processes and Case Studies

David R. Johnson

ABSTRACT

Over the past decade, the use of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) as a gasoline additive has become one of the most widespread environmental problems in the United States. Its high water solubility, ubiquitous use, uncertain health effects, and recalcitrant nature have made MTBE the subject of an extensive amount of research in recent years. The attempt of this review is to describe the basic environmental behavior of MTBE and to compare and contrast the processes and corresponding degradation rates involved with MTBE biodegradation. Biodegradation processes include aerobic, anaerobic, and cometabolic metabolism of MTBE by both pure and mixed cultures obtained from a wide range of sources. A review of published case studies is also presented and the processes involved with each case study were compared to laboratory investigations.