Effects of dissolved oxygen, pH, and carbonate alkalinity on the UV/H₂O₂ oxidation of MTBE

“UV/H2O2 oxidation under various conditions was examined as a method of modifying methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) into biodegradable byproducts. The formation of tertiary-butyl formate (TBF) and tertiary-butyl alcohol (TBA), as well as the removal of MTBE, TBF, and TBA were measured as functions of pH (7, 8, and 9), carbonate alkalinity (0 and 3 mM), and dissolved oxygen concentration (0, 9, and 43 mg/L). MTBE was found, in general, to be modifiable to TBF, TBA, methyl acetate (MA), formic acid (FA), and acetone. However, under N2-sparge (DO = 0 mg/L) nearly 50 additional byproducts were detected by GC/MS”--Abstract, page iv