1.1.

2 Importance of production of Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether(MTBE)

Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether(MTBE) is widely used in gasoline as an octane booster and
oxygenate. MTBE gets added to gasoline because it boosts octane .It is an oxygenate,
meaning that it adds oxygen to the reaction when it burns [1]. Ideally, oxygenate reduces the
amount of unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide in the exhaust [1].

Figure 1.1.3a : Four-stroke internal combustion engine. [2]

In hindsight, gasoline is injected inside an engine compartment called pistons. Based on

the figure above, there are four stages which lead the gasoline being burned and utilized to
ensure the mobility of the car.

The first stage of a four-stroke gasoline cycle is called the induction stroke.
The induction stroke is the first stroke in a four-stroke internal combustion engine cycle. It
involves the downward movement of the piston, creating a partial vacuum that draws (allows
atmospheric pressure to push) a fuel/air mixture into the combustion chamber [2].

The second stage is called the compression stroke. In this stage, the mixture or air
is compressed to the top of the cylinder by the piston until it is either ignited by a spark plug,
and reaches the point at which the fuel which has been injected spontaneously combusts,
forcing the piston back down [2].
 The next stage is called the power stroke which is the stroke of a cyclic motor which
generates force. It is used in describing mechanical engines. This force is the result of the
spark plug igniting the compressed fuel-air mixture [2].

The exhaust stroke is the fourth of four stages in a four stroke internal combustion
engine cycle. In this stage gases remaining in the cylinder from the fuel ignited during the
compression step are removed from the cylinder through an exhaust valve at the top of the
cylinder. The gases are forced up to the top of the cylinder as the piston rises and are pushed
through the opening which then closes to allow fresh air/fuel mixture into the cylinder so the
process can repeat itself [2].

The process stated above shows how gasoline works in an engine. Gasoline is a
petroleum-derived liquid that is used primarily as a fuel in internal combustion engines (ICE),
particularly spark ignition. Gasoline is a blend of hydrocarbons with some contaminants,
including sulfur, nitrogen, oxygen, and certain metals [3]. The four major constituent groups
of gasoline are olefins, aromatics, paraffins, and napthenes [3]. Octane number (ON) is measure
of the ignition quality or flammability of gasoline [3]. In general, higher octane number shows
how much pressure the fuel can withstand when it is being compressed by the piston before it
ignites. The use of gasoline with a low octane number may lead to engine knocking, occurs
when the peak of the combustion process no longer occurs at the optimum moment for the four-
stroke cycle. The cause of this problem is due to the faulty spark plugs and low octane fuel[3].

Therefore, oxygenates are added in a gasoline function to prevent these problems from
happening. Firstly they have high blending octane, and so can replace high octane aromatics
in the fuel. These aromatics are responsible for disproportionate amounts
of CO and HC exhaust emissions. This is called the "aromatic substitution
effect". Oxygenates also cause engines without sophisticated engine
management systems to move to the lean side of stoichiometry, thus reducing
emissions of CO ( 2% oxygen can reduce CO by 16% ) and HC ( 2% oxygen can
reduce HC by 10%) [3].
MTBE in Malaysia

The Malaysia Automotive Association (MAA) has released Malaysian vehicle registration data
up to June 30, 2017, with the total number of vehicles on our roads are 28,181,203 units [4].

Types of vehicle used in Malaysia

185035, 1% 1205744, 4%

13288797,
12933042, 48%
47%

Cars Motorcyles Public vehicles Goods vehicles

Figure 1.1.3b [4]

Based on the figure above, the total number of vehicles being used on roads are broken
down to give a better idea on the types of vehicle that are generally used in Malaysia.
13,288,797 cars, 12,933,042 motorcycles registered, and 185,035 public service vehicles
(PSV) including buses, taxis and private hire vehicles. Registrations of goods vehicle, on the
other hand, reached 1,205,744 units [4]. As of June 2018, it is reported that the number of cars
on roads has increased to 29,326.492 [5]. Since the number of cars have increased
tremendously from 2017 to 2018, a more efficient step needs to be taken by the government to
ensure a safe air quality. The blending of gasoline-MTBE has been proven to provide a much
more efficient fuel burning, and better cost-efficient yet safer automotive fuel leading to a safer
air quality. The importance of gasoline-MTBE blending automotive fuel has seen 70 000
tonnes of its 390 000 tonnes/year of MTBE production have been exported to China alone [6],
signifying the high demand of the MTBE needed from China. Besides, Petronas Chemicals
Marketing (Labuan) Ltd will open a methanol plant production in Bintulu, Sarawak with an
estimated annual production capacity of 1.7 million tonnes per annum that enable the company
to fulfil the rising demand from Asia Pacific, especially in Southeast Asia, China, Korea,
Taiwan, Japan and India, where the growing middle class is contributing to a higher
consumption of petrochemical products [7].
Reference

[1] Bruce Hamilton et al. What are oxygenates. [Accessed Online on 21st February 2019].
Retrieved from https://stason.org/TULARC/vehicles/gasoline-faq/4-5-What-are-
oxygenates.html
[2] Shaik Moin (18th February 2013) Four-stroke internal combustion engines. [Accessed
Online 0n 21st February 2019]. Retrieved from https://shaikmoin.wordpress.com/tag/four-
stroke-engine/
[3] A. Dermibas et al. (14 August 2015) Octane rating of gasoline and octane booster
additives. [Accessed online on 21st February 2019]. Retrieved from https://sci-
hub.tw/10.1080/10916466.2015.1050506
[4] Jonathan Lee (3rd October 2017) Vehicle registrations in Malaysia hit 28.2 million units.
[Accessed Online on 21st February 2019]. Retrieved from
https://paultan.org/2017/10/03/vehicle-registrations-in-malaysia-hit-28-2-million-units/
[5] Ceic Data. Malaysia Number of Vehicle : Total . [Accessed Online 21st February 2019].
Retrieved from https://www.ceicdata.com/en/malaysia/motor-vehicles-registration/number-
of-motor-vehicle-total
[6] ICIS News (2nd January 2019) OUTLOOK’ 19 : Asia’s MTBE may face a supply deluge
from new plants. [Accessed Online on 21st February 2019]. Retrieved from
https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2019/01/02/10300715/outlook-19-asias-mtbe-
may-face-a-supply-deluge-from-new-plants/
[7] NST Busines (16th December 2018) Petronas Chemicals’ marketing arm collaborates with
Sarawak Petchem to market methanol. [Accessed Online on 21st February 2019]. Retrieved
from https://www.nst.com.my/business/2018/12/441222/petronas-chemicals-marketing-arm-
collaborates-sarawak-petchem-market