DHAHRAN, 30 March 2003 — The United States has patented a process developed by a university scholar here which will help combat pollution.
According to the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Ali of the Center for Refining and Petrochemicals of the Research Institute has been awarded a patent titled “Synthesis of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) from methanol and isobutene using aluminum fluoride modified zeoolite catalysts.”
This new catalyst is for use in preparation of MTBE, which has become an important chemical to reduce air pollution. Before MTBE, compounds of lead were used in gasoline to boost the octane number, which made gasoline more volatile and so better for cold-starting an engine.
