ABSTRACT
Diethyl ether may be released to the environment as a result of its industrial manufacture and use as a solvent and extractant. It has been detected in a variety of industrial effluents. Evaporation from solvent uses may be a major source of environmental release. If diethyl ether is released to soil surfaces, it will volatilize rapidly. It is expected to be highly mobile in moist soil and subject to leaching to ground water. Its detection in various ground waters demonstrate that it will leach environmentally. If released to surface water, diethyl ether will be subject to rapid volatilization. Volatilization half-lives of 3.1 hr and 1.5 days have been estimated for a model river (one meter deep) and model pond (2 meters deep), respectively. Data from aqueous screening studies suggest that diethyl ether is resistent to biodegradation in environmental media. Aqueous hydrolysis, bioconcentration, photo-oxidation, direct photolysis and adsorption to sediment are not expected to be important.
