Low temperature catalytic decomposition and oxidation of MTBE

Catalytic combustion of methyl-tert-butyl-ether (MTBE) was studied in the gas-phase from an aqueous solution spiked with MTBE (1.1 mM), to simulate actual remediation conditions. The solution of MTBE was sparged with an oxygen/helium gas, at a ratio of 1–4. The sparged gas stream of MTBE and water vapor was passed over catalysts utilizing Pt/Rh or Pd in conjunction with a mixed metal oxide based upon La1−xSrxMnO3. The results were compared to a commercial catalyst which contained a higher loading of Pt. The experiments with the catalysts were conducted over a temperature range of 80–500°C. Combustion to CO2 and water was observed in all cases, but by-product formation of isobutene and methanol was seen at lower temperatures for all of the catalysts tested, with the exception of the commercial catalyst. The catalyst with the lowest loading of Pt/Rh achieved the lowest temperature for complete oxidation of MTBE and its by-products.