| Abstract
| - The application of the UV/H2O2 process to the degradationof methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in dilute aqueoussolution resulted in the generation of tert-butyl formate(TBF), 2-methoxy-2-methyl propionaldehyde (MMP),formaldehyde, acetone, tert-butyl alcohol (TBA), andmethyl acetate as primary byproducts. Other intermediates,such as carbonyl compounds (hydroxy-iso-butyraldehyde,hydroxyacetone, pyruvaldehyde) and organic acids(hydroxy-iso-butyric, formic, pyruvic, acetic, oxalic) werealso detected and quantified during the irradiation. A goodorganic carbon balance is obtained throughout thetreatment, indicating that almost all of the intermediateshave been detected. The TOC pattern shows that eventuallyall the organic compounds are mineralized. Variousanalytical techniques, such as GC/MS, GC, IC, HPLC, andTOC analysis, were employed in order to identify and quantifythe organic products. The detailed reaction mechanismproposed in this study for the degradation of MTBE by •OH-driven oxidation processes accounts for all observedintermediates and the high oxygen demand required fortheir complete mineralization.
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