Tert-Butyl Methyl Ether (MTBE), also known as Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether and MBTE, is an organic compound. mtbe is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid that does not dissolve in water. mtbe is a gasoline additive used as an oxygenate to increase octane rating.
MTBE is manufactured through a chemical reaction between methanol and isobutene. Methanol is derived from natural gas and isobutene is derived from butane in crude oil or natural gas, so MTBE is derived from fossil fuels.
Why is MTBE used as a solvent?
MTBE (Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether) is commonly used as a solvent due to several beneficial properties. Its structure as a nonpolar ether makes it very effective in solubilizing nonpolar compounds, such as oils, which leads to its use in various extraction and purification processes. In addition, MTBE's relatively low boiling point (55.3°C) and medium polarity make it a good solvent for organic reactions, especially in industrial applications, as it helps to increase the rate of reaction while being easier to handle than other volatile solvents, such as ether.
