environmental en 32 Chapter 2 Chemistry Case Study To MTBE or Not to MTBE? Stude

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environmental en

32 Chapter 2 Chemistry Case Study To MTBE or Not to MTBE? Students often ask why they need to study chemistry. Chemistry is the backbone for most ronmental engineering and science. For example, determining the amount of chemicals ed on chemical precipitation reactions. Understanding how chemicals move through emove calcium and magnesium (hardness minerals) from drinking wateris the subsurface and groundwater is based on chemistry Let's look at a case study where a lack of understanding of chemistry has caused numerous problems. In 1992, the state of California promulgated regulations to reduce air pollution and increase octane ratings by adding methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) to unleaded gasoline. The U.S. EPA followed suit and in 1992 and 1995, respectively, the Oxy genated Fuel Program and Reformulated Gasoline Program were instif soluble chemical that is miscible in water, has a disagreeable odor, is a possi MTBE is a very o- ble carcin gen, and is highly recalcitrant (not easily degraded in the natural environment) (Happel Beckenbach, and Holden, 1998). As of 1998, approximately 30% of the gasoline used in the United States contained MTBE (Ulrich, 1999) at concentrations of about 10% (US EPA, 1997). There are some two million underground storage tanks in the United States, 95% of which hold petroleum products and 80% are bare-steel tanks. The bare-steel tanks are most likely to corrode and leak (U.S. EPA, 1988) So the question one should ask is, when the regulations were promulgated should a per son well trained in chemistry and environmental engineering have been able to predict a problem? In my opinion, that the contamination of groundwaters with MTBE would be the answer is yes. By the late 1980s the magnitude of the problem of petroleum contami of groundwater was apparent, as indicated by the EPA press release (U.S. EPA, 1988). Since MTBE is very soluble in water, any MTBE that leaked from an underground storage tank and migrated to the water table would mix readily with water and migrate with the groundwater. Subsequent studies revealed just this (Wilt, 1999). Perhaps, by studying chemistry you can help avoid the next environmental problem before it becomes a major national issue

Explanation / Answer

It is essential to know the importance of chemistry in studying the movement and contamination of chemicals in the sub -surface and ground water. Although Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE), a chemical, is found to reduce air pollution, it has harmful characteristics. It causes cancer and has a disagreeable odor. It is highly recalcitrant. According to U.S. EPA (1988),out of the two million underground storage tanks in U.S,95% holding petroleum products are bare steel tanks subjected to corrosion and leakage.

Ground water contamination by crude oil, and other petroleum-based liquids, is a widespread problem. An average of 83 crude-oil spills occurred per year during 1994-96 in the United States, each spilling an average of about 50,000 barrels of crude oil (U.S. Office of Pipeline Safety, electronic commun., 1997).

Chemistry is at the heart of environmental issues. Environmental Chemistry is a multifaceted field that focuses on the chemical processes, their impacts, the cycling and motility influencing the composition and chemical makeup of air, water and soils. The field of Environmental Chemistry has been evolving for years, especially since we became aware of the damage being done to the environment through chemical production and disposal, the usage of fertilizers and pesticides, fuel development and transport, and other major industrial advances. The field truly deals with chemistry in the environment, and the natural phenomena that may transport them or affect their retention, mobility, or alteration such as ground water contamination, acid rain, ozone depletion, and ocean acidification. Environmental chemistry also deals with processes that affect the bioavailability of pollutants and toxicity in the natural ecosystems.Hence,it can be concluded that a person well versed in above field can help solve major environmental issues in the near future.

Questions related to case study

1.What chemical property of Methyl tertiary Butyl Ether makes it soluble in water ?

2.How to prevent leakage of MTBE from underground storage tanks containing petroleum products?

3.What is the alternative to MTBE that can be added to unleaded gasoline ?

4. Which material can be used to construct underground storage tank to prevent corrosion of the tank?

5. What are the tests to be conducted with ground water to find presence of harmful chemicals ?

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