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MTBE OXIDATION BY BIFUNCTIONAL ALUMINUN
Citation:
Lien, H. AND R T. Wilkin*. MTBE OXIDATION BY BIFUNCTIONAL ALUMINUN. 3rd International Conference on Remediation of Chlorinated and Recalcitrant Compounds, Monterey, CA, 05/20-23/2002.
Description:
Bifunctional aluminum, prepared by sulfating zero-valent aluminum with sulfuric acid, is an innovative extension of zero-valent metal (ZVM) technology for ground water remediation. Bifunctional aluminum has a dual functionality of simultaneously decomposing both reductively- and oxidatively-degradable contaminants whereas ZVM can only treat reductively-degradable contaminants. In this work, the use of bifunctional aluminum for the degradation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) to primarily tert-butly alcohol, tert-butyl formate, acetone and methyl acetate has been examined in the presence of dioxygen (O2) using batch experiments. Bifunctionall aluminum is capable of utilizing dioxygen through a reductive activation process to degrade MTBE at ambient temperature and pressure where MTBE is extremely stable. The reductive activation of dioxygen involving the formation of reduced oxygen radicals is a new treatment concept for oxygenates because most oxidative technologies require strong oxidants. Results indicate that aluminum serves as a reductant creating favorable conditions for the reductive activation of dioxygen. Sulfur-containing species generated by the sulfation of aluminum at the metal surface are considered to act as active sites for the stabilization of reduced oxygen radicals. Rates of MTBE oxidation increased with i) metal loading of bifunctional aluminum and ii) the concentration of sulfur-containing species at the aluminum surface. A postulated mechanism rationalizing the oxidation of MTBE by bifunctional aluminum is proposed. Bifunctional aluminum offers new opportunities for both in-situ (e.g., permeable reactive barriers) and ex-situ remediation of ground water contaminated with gasoline oxygenates.