Dissolution of monoaromatic hydrocarbons into groundwater from gasoline-oxygenate mixtures

Journal Article · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1992 · Environmental Science and Technology; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/es00036a022· OSTI ID:7305906

Poulsen, M; Lemon, L; Barker, J F ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Waterloo, Ontario (Canada)

The effects of the [open quotes]oxygenate[close quotes] additives methanol and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) on the aqueous solubility of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) from gasoline were evaluated through equilibrium batch experiments. For a gasoline:water ratio of 1:10 (v/v), up to 15% MTBE or up to 85% methanol in gasoline produced no enhanced BTEX solubility. However, at higher gasoline:water ratios, aqueous methanol concentrations above 10% enhanced BTEX solubility. The initial methanol content of the gasoline and the equilibrating gasoline- to water-phase ratio controlled the aqueous methanol concentration. Partitioning theory and the experimental results were used to calculate aqueous benzene and methanol concentrations in successive batches of fresh groundwater equilibrating with the fuel and subsequent residuals. These successive batches simulated formation of a plume of contaminated groundwater. The front of the plume generated from high-methanol gasoline equilibrating with groundwater at a gasoline:water ratio of more than 1 had high methanol content and elevated BTEX concentrations. Thus, release of high-methanol fuels could have a more serious, initial impact on groundwater than do releases of methanol-free gasoline. 22 refs., 4 figs., 3 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 7305906
• Journal Information: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Science and Technology; (United States) Vol. 26:12; ISSN ESTHAG; ISSN 0013-936X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900* -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201 -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
ADDITIVES
ALCOHOLS
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
AROMATICS
BENZENE
DISPERSIONS
DISSOLUTION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
EQUILIBRIUM
ETHERS
FUEL ADDITIVES
FUELS
GASOHOL
GASOLINE
GROUND WATER
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LIQUID FUELS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METHANOL
MIXTURES
MONITORING
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PARTITION
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLLUTION
SOLUBILITY
SOLUTIONS
TOLUENE
WATER
WATER POLLUTION
XYLENES