Why Was MTBE Introduced as a Gasoline Additive?
Air quality standards mandated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) require gasoline to contain chemicals called oxygenates, one of which is MTBE, to reduce air pollution. California gasoline producers are subject to gasoline blending requirements at both the federal and state level as dictated by the Federal Clean Air Act and CARB’s Cleaner Burning Gasoline regulations. In response to these regulations, gasoline producers in California have invested over $4 billion to redesign their refineries to produce MTBE as a principal blending component to meet gasoline regulations. MTBE is credited with contributing to major air quality improvements in the state, reducing emissions by 3 million pounds every day which is equivalent to taking 3.5 million cars off the road.
