A membrane bioreactor (MBR) was operated for the removal of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) from water. Although the reactor was seeded with several cultures acclimated to MTBE degradation, a long start-up time was observed. Monitoring of the reactor with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) revealed a dramatic shift in the MBR culture from the original seed culture, indicating that th...

A stable water-in-oil-in-water (W1/O/W2) double emulsion containing in its inner aqueous phase a microbial consortium (60mgprotein L 1 double emulsion) known to degrade methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) was prepared. The primary emulsion (W1/O) had a volume disperse phase (f1) of 0.3 and was stabilized with 8% Span 80. The double emulsion had a volume disperse phase (f2) of 0.3 and was stabilized ...

The efficiencies of four different methods for the extraction of phospholipids (PLs) and lysophospholipids (LPLs) from human plasma samples were examined by comparing extraction recovery values using nanoflow liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (nLC-ESI-MS). For recovery measurements, six PL and six LPL standards of different head groups were spiked into a human plas...

Concentrations measured in alfalfa plant stem segments indicated that plants grown in methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE)-contaminated soil took up the chemical through their roots. Assuming a cylindrical shape for the plant stem, a mathematical model was developed to describe the transport of MTBE through the stems. Simulation results from uniform and nonuniform initial concentration distributions ...

Methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), a high-octane blending agent for motor gasoline, is produced by reacting directly tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) with methanol using Amberlyst 15 ion-exchange resin, which acts as both catalyst and adsorbent. Experiments were carried out in a fixed-bed reactor in the temperature range 318–328 K using rectangular pulse input and measuring the elution profiles of TBA, MT...

Extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL) of gall bladder stones leaves residual fragments that need to be dissolved by chemical solvents. In this study we compared the in vitro dissolving capacity of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), mono-octanoin, limonene, and limonene/mono-octanoin (70%/30%). From nine sets of five human gall stones obtained at cholecystectomy, four stones were used for dis...