Identification of environmental hazards of gasoline oxygenate tert-amyl methyl ether (TAME)

The physico-chemical and environmental properties of a new gasoline component tert-amyl methyl ether (TAME, 2-methoxy-2-methylbutane) were determined experimentally and environmental hazards of the new component were thereafter identified. The methodology was based on the chemical regulations of the European Union (EU). On the basis of the experimental results, TAME is a volatile, non-hydrophobic and water-soluble liquid, which is not expected to be adsorbed onto organic matter in soil or sediment. It is not readily biodegradable. TAME has very low acute toxicity to aquatic organisms and is not expected to bioaccumulate.