Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE) is an ether compound used as a gasoline blending component to raise the oxygen content of gasoline. MTBE is made by combining isobutylene (from various refining and chemical processes) and methanol (usually made from natural gas)
Mixtures containing 85 percent or more (or such other percentage, but not less than 70 percent) by volume of methanol with gasoline. Pure methanol is considered an “other alternative fuel.”
A light, volatile alcohol eligible for gasoline blending.
Today, methanol is a commodity. Its worldwide consumption is some 50 million tons (2012) at a growth rate of 8% a year.
The advantages of methanol compared to gasoline: it is natural gas based and so reduces the dependency on crude oil, cheap, and does not required incentives and subsidies, clean – less pollutant emissions, environmental, safe – less flammable then gasoline, efficient combustion, operation, and logistics. The transportation of methanol is similar to that of gasoline, the price of methanol is 40%-45% of gasoline.
The disadvantages of methanol compared to gasoline: methanol has a low caloric value compared to gasoline, but its more efficient combustion leads, according to the literature, to a better engine salvage and to a certain compensation of the caloric value. The significant advantage of methanol in terms of price indicates that the price of a kilometer ride will be lower than fueling by gasoline and will reduce the petrol costs for the consumer.
