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REMOVAL OF METHYL TERTIARY BUTYL ETHER (MTBE) FROM GROUNDWATER USING PHOTOCATALYSIS
Citation:
SahleDemessie*, E, J Enriquez*, AND C. B. Almquist. REMOVAL OF METHYL TERTIARY BUTYL ETHER (MTBE) FROM GROUNDWATER USING PHOTOCATALYSIS. Presented at Chemrawn XIV World Congress on Green Chemistry: Towards Environmentally Benign Products and Processes, Boulder, CO, 6/9-13/2001.
Description:
The potential of photocatalysis was determined for treating MTBE-contaminated drinking water supplies. Two liquid-phase systems, a falling film reactor, and a solar degradation system, are being evaluated. We are also conducting a gas-phase treatment method to simulate an integrated air stripping/photoxidation method. The application of these technologies was studied for groundwater samples obtained from Long Island, NY, and Long Beach, CA where there are many dissolved ion species. A 99% reduction in MTBE, BTEXs, chlorobenzenes and other gasoline compounds was detected in less than 60 minutes of contact time and decreased MTBE to less than 20 mg/L. TBA and TBF were the major degradation products. Gas-phase treatment conducted to simulate air-stripping and UV/TiO2 systems showed a 99.8% degradation of MTBE. The technology has been shown to be capable of removing medium-to-low levels of MTBE (50 to 1 mg/L) to drinking water standards.