Ethyl tert-butyl ether

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Reference = ["Merck Index", 11th Edition, 3732.]
ImageFile = Ethyl-tertiary-butyl-ether-chemical.png ImageSize = 250px
IUPACName = 2-Ethoxy-2-methyl-propane
OtherNames = Ethyl tert-butyl ether
Ethyl tertiary butyl ether
Ethyl tert-butyl oxide
tert-Butyl ethyl ether
Ethyl t-butyl ether
Section1 = Chembox Identifiers
Abbreviations = ETBE
CASNo = 637-92-3
EINECS = 211-309-7
PubChem = 12512
SMILES = CCOC(C)(C)C
InChI = 1/C6H14O/c1-5-7-6(2,3)4/h5H2,1-4H3
RTECS =KN4730200
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Section2 = Chembox Properties
C=6|H=14|O=1
MolarMass =102.18
Appearance =Clear colorless liquid
Density = 0.7364 g/cm³
MeltingPtC = -94
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BoilingPt = 69-71 °C
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Solubility = 1.2 g/100 g
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RPhrases = R11 R20
SPhrases = S16
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FlashPt = -19 °C
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Ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE) is commonly used as an oxygenate gasoline additive in the production of gasoline from crude oil. ETBE offers equal or greater air quality benefits as ethanol, while being technically and logistically less challenging. Unlike ethanol, ETBE does not induce evaporation of gasoline, which is one of the causes of smog, and does not absorb moisture from the atmosphere.

Synthesis

It is synthesized by mixing ethanol and isobutylene and reacting them with heat over a catalyst.

Ethanol, produced by fermentation and distillation, is more expensive than methanol, which is derived from natural gas. Therefore, MTBE, made from methanol is cheaper than ETBE, made from ethanol. However, (bio)ethanol makes ETBE partially a biofuel, while MTBE is entirely a fossil fuel and introduces a risk to the environment (see the article on MTBE).

See also

*Methyl tert-butyl ether

References

External links

* [http://www.efoa.org EFOA]