Ethyl tert-butyl ether

Ethyl tert-butyl ether, commonly known as ETBE (CAS 637-92-3), is a synthetic ether produced by reacting ethanol with isobutylene. It carries no assigned E-code and is also referenced under the names tert-butyl ethyl ether and NSC 1069. It falls under HS code 29091990 for customs classification purposes.

In fuel blending, ETBE functions as an oxygenate additive, raising the oxygen content of petrol to support more complete combustion and reduce carbon monoxide emissions. It is also employed as a process solvent in lubricant formulation, where its ether linkage provides selective solvency for hydrocarbon-based systems without aggressive reactivity toward metal surfaces.

ETBE is supplied as a colourless to light yellow liquid and is subject to REACH registration requirements for EU-based procurement. Buyers should confirm grade specifications and purity certificates with the supplier prior to ordering, as fuel-grade and solvent-grade material may carry different quality standards.