The analysis of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylenes, and Methyl-tert-butyl ether is a common analysis performed in many laboratories. BTEX compounds are naturally occurring constituents in crude oil and are created and used during the processing of refined petroleum products and during the production of chemical intermediates for many consumer products. BTEX compounds represent some of the most hazardous components in gasoline and are considered toxins of concern in fuels. These compounds, as well as MTBE a fuel oxygenate, are very mobile in soil and groundwater and are used as indicator compounds in various monitoring and clean-up programs such as the Underground Storage Tank (UST) Program.
There are technology improvements available for analysis using the BTEX-MTBE method.