Background: The aim of this work was to isolate and identify soil microorganism capable of degrading MTBE.Methods: Samples collected from a wastewater MTBE plant of Mahshahr Petrochemical, Iran, and carried in screw-cap bottle to laboratory. Enrichment technique was used to isolate MTBE degrader. In enrichment studies, a Basal Salts Medium (BSM) was utilized which supplemented with MTBE compound in 6 concentration 50-800 ppm as sole source of carbon and energy. Contaminated soils also used as inoculums in enrichment steps.Results: According to this research, the consortium obtained from the wastewater of MTBE plant was performed by periodically adding MTBE over 3-month period. After several enrichment steps in BSM liquid medium containing MTBE as the sole carbon, of 800 ppm Concentration MTBE, a green- blue pigmented strain pw3, (i.e. Pseudomonas aeruginosa) which showed faster rate of MTBE removal, was isolated. It is worth nothing that this bacterium was capable to grow in MTBE concentration of 600 ppm as sole carbon and energy source. Pure culture was identified by colony morphology, Gram stain reaction and biochemical tests. Molecular identification study (PCR) to be continued.Conclusion: It is well known that MTBE-degrading bacteria play an important role in the elimination of MTBE in soil. Biodegradation is one of the promising techniques to reduce MTBE contaminated in the environment and MTBE degraders were reported as an efficient method used to degrade MTBE. The results of our research showed the potential pure bacterial cultures of Pseudomonas sp. For biodegradation of the MTBE-contaminated sites and confirmed the significant ecological role of bacteria in petroleum-polluted environments.

MTBE (methyl tertiary-butyl ether) is an Oxygenated organic matter which is widely used nowadays in some countries in unleaded gasoline. MTBE is a toxic substance which is absorbed quickly on water and soil and is one of the most important pollutants in soils and groundwater resources. In order to remove MTBE from the soil, using different experimental methods, determining reliable methods for specifying adsorption capacity of MTBE according to optimum value of affecting parameters and MTBE concentration in soil is the first and the most important step. Therefore, in this study contaminated Kaolinite clay soil samples were prepared with different concentrations of MTBE. Afterwards the maximum adsorption capacity of MTBE in the soil and effect of various parameters, such as: sample PH, contact time, MTBE concentrations and soil dosage of samples, on its value was investigated. The results showed that contact time and MTBE concentration have the most effect on maximum adsorption capacity of MTBE in the soil. Maximum adsorption capacity of MTBE in the soil determined equal to 1.15 g/kg considering optimum condition of effective parameters. Since Kaolin clay soils can be widely used certainly for removal of MTBE from contaminated soils, especially through electrokinetic techniques, thus, it is believed that Results of this study experiments provide specific guidance for future researches into MTBE adsorption capacity of Kaolinite.

Methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE) has been commonly used as a fuel additive because of its many favorable properties that allow it to improve fuel combustion. Unfortunately, increased production and use have led to its introduction into the water supplies. Accordingly, research studies have been initiated to investigate the treatment of contaminated water. Degradation of MTBE in aqueous solution by Fenton reagent (Fe2+ and H2O2) was investigated. This study used Fenton reagent to oxidize MTBE with an attempt to explore the behavior of MTBE decomposition and measure how factors such as pH, [H2O2] and [Fe2+] may influence the degradation of MTBE, and finally the optimum conditions were obtained. Under optimum conditions of 50 mL H2O2, 0.65 g/L Fe2+, pH=3-4 and room temperature, the initial 1000 mg/L MTBE solution was reduced by 99% within 120 min. The results showed that application of Fenton reagent was an effective method for degradation of MTBE.  

Methyl Tert-Butyl Ether (MTBE) is one of the ether oxygenates which its use has been increased within the last twenty years. This compound is produced from isobutylene and methanol reaction that is used as octane index enhancer and also increases dissolved oxygen in gasoline and decreases carbon monoxide emission in four phased motors because of better combustion of gasoline. High solubility in water (52 g/L), high vapor pressure (0.54 kg/cm3), low absorption to organic carbon of soil and presence of MTBE in the list of potentially-carcinogens of U.S EPA has made its use of great concern. The culture media used in this study was Mineral Salt Medium (MSM). The study lasted for 236 days and in three different concentrations of MTBE of 200, 5 and 0.8 mg/L. A control sample was also used to compare the results.  This research studied the isolation methods of microbial consortium in the MTBE polluted soils in Tehran and Abadan petroleum refinery besides MTBE degradation. The results showed the capability of bacteria in consuming MTBE as carbon source. Final microbial isolation was performed with several microbial passages as well as keeping consortium in a certain amount of MTBE as the carbon source.