Current situation of MTBE (methyl terbutyl ether) in aquifer systems

Abstract

Groundwater contamination with MTBE has become the center of national attention in the US. Although it is possible to taste and smell MTBE dissolved in water at low concentrations, these levels are below those at which carcinogenic risk could exist. The objective of this work is to present a summary of the most representative studies in the last years related to groundwater contamination by MTBE. This work addresses the debate regarding the size of MTBE plumes with respect to benzene plumes and the issue of MTBE biodegradability. MTBE is generally considered to be less biodegradable than BTEX compounds. While numerous studies have reported biodegradation of MTBE under laboratory conditions, there is less evidence of natural biodegradation of MTBE at field scales.
Nevertheless, MTBE biodegradation has been recognized as a major factor on MTBE remediation of groundwater through some kind of a remediation scheme.