Degradation mechanism of t-butyl methyl ether (MTBE) in atmospheric droplets

The aim of this study was to obtain information about the degradation of t-butyl methyl ether (MTBE; (CH3)3C–O–CH3) in atmospheric water droplets (rain, clouds, fog). These water droplets contain hydrogen peroxide and iron ions, which are a source of the powerful oxidising radical OH°, particularly under solar irradiation (photo-Fenton reaction). MTBE was chosen for this work because of its current use as an oxygenated additive in gasoline.