Question

How many millions of gallons of groundwater could potentially have been contaminated to a level of 15 μg/L of methyl-t-butyl ether (MTBE), the threshold odor concentration, following a spill of 50 gallons of reformulated gasoline containing 12% MTBE (weight basis)? Assume that the density of the reformulated gasoline is 0.80 g/mL and note that there are 3.785 liters in a gallon.

Answer 1

given 1 gallon =3.78 liters

50 gallong of reformulated gasoline correspond to 50*3.78 L=189 Liters=189*1000ml (1L=1000ml)

The density of gasoline = 0.8 g/ml, mass of gasoline = volume*density= 189*1000 ml*0.89 g/ml = 168210 gm

MTBE concentration = 15 ug/L, 1ug= 10-6 g/L, 15 ug/L= 15*10^-6 g/L

volume of ground water= 168210 gm/15*10^-6 g/L=1.1214*10¹⁰ L

converting this into gallons, volume of ground water that could potentially have been contaminated = 1.1214*10¹⁰/3.78 =2.97*10⁹ Gallons