blucken-ga:
Thank you for your questions regarding methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE).
I will address your questions in the order you asked them.
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What is the current status of MTBE as a fuel oxygenate in the U.S. and globally?
Following the Clean Air Act of 1990, gasoline producers in the US were
required to supply re-formulated gasolines designed to burn 'cleaner',
to the areas of the US suffering the most from excessive ground-level
ozone as the result of vehicle emissions.
The petroluem industry responded by researching the best oxygenates
available that could be added to gasoline to increase the oxygen
content to the 2% by weight requirement of the Clean Air Act (CAA).
Methyl tert-butyl ether was found to be the best candidate due to its
lower volatility, and its ability to 'boost' the octane rating of
gasoline.
Unfortunately, this lower volatility has also turned out to be
undesirable, as any MTBE that escapes into the environment (during,
for example, a fuel spill) tends to survive for a long time, and often
ends up in groundwater systems where it adds an unpleasant taste and
odor to the water supply. As a result, many US states have banned or
are phasing out the use of MTBE as an oxygenate in reformulated
gasoline.
The following website provides an excellent review of the current
status of MTBE as a fuel oxygenate in the US:
Status and Impact of State MTBE Ban - Energy Information Admin, US Dept. of Energy
http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/servicerpt/mtbeban/index.html
Globally, reformulated gasolines are also found throughout Europe, and
in areas with high urban ozone levels, such as Singapore, Malaysia,
and China.
Here are some links to global websites with information on MTBE:
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Australia:
http://www.racq.com.au/04_club/roadahead/Dec-Jan2004/p69_Fuel_rules.htm
http://www.awqc.com.au/news/archive/mtbe.htm
- references to MTBE only being present in imported fuels, and a
planned ban on MTBE
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Asia:
http://wardsauto.com/ar/transportation_asia_gasolineasian_mtbe/
- references to Singapore, Malaysia, China as areas where MTBE fuels are used
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Europe:
http://www.efoa.org/fr/what_mtbe/supply_demand.htm
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What does the current energy bill say about MTBE?
The 2003 energy bill, which was passed by the US House of
Representatives in November 2003, then was delayed in the Senate by
the Democrats, has a potentially expensive provision (expensive for
the tax payer, that is) regarding MTBE:
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Energy Policy Act of 2003
http://www.house.gov/rules/text_6cr.pdf
SEC. 1502. FUELS SAFE HARBOR.
(a) IN GENERAL.?Notwithstanding any other provision of Federal or
State law, no renewable fuel, as defined by section 211(o)(1) of the
Clean Air Act, or methyl tertiary butyl ether (hereinafterin this
section referred to as ??MTBE??), used or intended to be used as a
motor vehicle fuel, nor any motor vehicle fuel containing such
renewable fuel or MTBE, shall be deemed a defective product by virtue
of the fact that it is, or contains, such a renewable fuel or MTBE, if
it does not violate a control or prohibition imposed by the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (hereinafter in
this section referred to as the ??Administrator??) under section 211
of such Act, and the manufacturer is in compliance with all requests
for information under subsection (b) of such section 211 of such Act.
If the safe harbor provided by this section does not apply, the
existence of a claim of defective product shall be determined under
otherwise applicable law. Nothing in this subsection shall be
construed to affect the liability of any person for environmental
remediation costs, drinking water contamination, negligence for spills
or other reasonably foreseeable events, public or private nuisance,
trespass, breach of warranty, breach of contract, or any other
liability other than liability based upon a claim of defective
product.
(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.?This section shall be effective as of September 5,
2003, and shall apply with respect to all claims filed on or after
that date.
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This provision would prevent any future lawsuits being filed against
the manufacturers of MTBE fuels for selling a defective product. Note
that this does not prevent any future lawsuits for damages and cost
recovery for cleanup efforts that the various state and municipal
authorities will need to undertake over the next decade to remove the
MTBE that has already entered the groundwater system.
Additional Links of interest:
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Opponents cite MTBE provision as key in blocking energy bill - San
Jose Mercury News (Nov 21, 2003)
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/7320778.htm
Energy bill provision may stop suits over water polluted by gas
additive - USA Today (Sep 30, 2003)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-09-30-mtbe_x.htm
The Energy Bill's Bright Side - FOX News (Jan 9, 2004)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,107789,00.html
U.S. presses Congress to cut energy bill - USA Today (Jan 30, 2004)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2004-01-30-energy-bill_x.htm
American Petroleum Institute
http://api-ep.api.org/environment/index.cfm?objectid=9EC44CD5-E167-49C4-8EBE7B354E4B3CD9&method=display_body&er=1&bitmask=002008008000000000
USGS Toxic Substances Hydrology Program
http://toxics.usgs.gov/definitions/mtbe_def.html
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What are the Top technology alternatives to MTBE?
While MTBE is the leading fuel oxygenate additive, there are others.
The one that the majority of fuel companies are moving towards is
Ethanol. Ethanol is already used in the Midwest states as an
oxygenate. California has mandated its use as of this year (Jan 1,
2004).
The following article lists the main contenders for the new oxygenate crown:
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http://www.cmaiglobal.com/news/files/2003WBuA.pdf
"...Refiners will replace MTBE in gasoline with ethanol, alkylate,
iso-octane, and reformate...."
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Ethanol is derived from corn and other biomass sources. Some argue
that this makes it a renewable resource; others argue that this is
basically turning food (ie. fuel for humans) into gas (ie. fuel for
cars) and will contribute to the overall food shortage problems
worldwide. It is most certainly not without its opponents:
http://www.calgasoline.com/factetha.htm
http://www.calgasoline.com/facttopten.htm
However, it also has its supporters:
http://grassley.senate.gov/releases/2000/p0r3-9a.htm
http://www.ncga.com/news/releases/2001/september/news092001.htm
Additional links of interest:
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Ethanol Producer Looks to Growth in Fuel Additive Market
http://www.socialfunds.com/news/print.cgi?sfArticleId=668
MTBE Use In Gasoline
http://www.standardalcohol.com/MTBE.htm
PROTEC?S CATALYSTS AS REPLACEMENT TO TEL AND MTBE
http://www.protecusa.com/replacement_tel_mtbe.htm
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I hope that this information is useful! Please let me know if you
would like clarification to any part of this Answer, using the Request
Clarification button above.
Best regards,
aht-ga
Google Answers Researcher |
