scourge
Harmless
Posts: 2
Registered: 8-10-2005
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MTBE vs. NM as an octane booster
Why is MTBE which is under scrutiny for drinking water contamination preferred as an octane enhancer? Why not nitromethane-methanol blends? Is there
any less contamination risks with it?
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Polverone
Now celebrating 21 years of madness
Posts: 3186
Registered: 19-5-2002
Location: The Sunny Pacific Northwest
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Mood: Waiting for spring
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MTBE has been used because it is inexpensive, has relatively low volatility, can be shipped through existing pipelines, and is of fairly low toxicity.
Unfortunately, it also turns out that low (non-toxic) levels of MTBE can give water a disgusting taste. I suppose this was not discovered before
widespread MTBE use began because standard testing protocols rarely have humans evaluate chemicals on flavor.
Nitromethane is far more expensive and methanol is far more toxic. Even if MTBE use is eliminated, I imagine that ethanol would be preferred over the
nitromethane/methanol combination.
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