High-octane boosters

MTBE

Grades

Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE), A grade, B grade, Specification No 38.103704-90

Main properties

Methyl tertiary-butyl ether is a colorless liquid with ether odor, highly inflammable, with boiling point at 54 °C. MTBE is not water-soluble but easily soluble in gasoline, ethanol, diethyl ether and spirits. Decomposes into methanol and isobutylene when heated above 460°C and also when heated with catalysts.

Purpose

Methyl tertiary-butyl ether is a high-octane oxygenic component of motor gasolines. It is applied in order to increase octane rating in the production of motor gasolines.Addition of methyl tertiary-butyl ether to motor fuels provides more thorough combustion of the fuel increasing the combustion temperature of the fuel burning and improving the efficiency of the engine. MTBE also improves the engine start-up at lower temperatures. Addition of MTBE significantly reduces content of carbon oxide, hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic compounds in the engine exhaust gases.

Technical characteristics

	A grade	B grade
Appearance	transparent liquid	transparent liquid
Amount of MTBE, %, not less than	98,0	96,0
Amount of spirits, %, not more than	1,5	2,5
Amount of hydrocarbons С₄—С₈, %, not more than	1,5	1,5
Amount of moisture, %, not more than	0,1	0,1
Mechanical impurities	none	none
Octane rating, research method	120	120