title: Chemical oxidative degradation of methyl tert-butyl ether in aqueous solution by Fenton's reagent.
abstract: Degradation of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in aqueous solution by Fenton's reagent (Fe2+ and H2O2) was investigated. Effects of reaction conditions on the oxidation efficiency of MTBE by Fenton's reagent were examined in batch experiments. Under optimum conditions, 15 mM H2O2, 2 mM Fe2+, pH 2.8 and room temperature, the initial 1 mM MTBE solution was reduced by 99% within 120 min. Results showed that MTBE was decomposed in a two-stage reaction. MTBE was first decomposed swiftly based on a Fe2+/H2O2 reaction and then decomposed somewhat less rapidly based on a Fe3+/H2O2 reaction. The detection of Fe2+ also supported the theory of the two-stage reaction for the oxidation of MTBE by Fenton's reagent. The dissolved oxygen in the solution decreased rapidly in the first stage reaction, but it showed a slow increase in the second stage with a zero-order kinetics. A reaction mechanism involving two different pathways for the decomposition of MTBE by Fenton's reagent was also proposed. Chemicals including tert-butyl formate, tert-butyl alcohol, methyl acetate and acetone were identified to be the primary intermediates and by-products of the degradation processes.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Department of Ecology & Biodiversity, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, SAR, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiang-Rong
authors.initials: XR
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zhen-Ye
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiao-Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ji-Dong
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water
chemical_list: C045076:Fenton's reagent; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D014867:Water; C043243:methyl tert-butyl ether; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D007501:Iron