hydrogen odorant
A hydrogen odorant in any form, is a minute amount of odorant such as ethyl isobutyrate, with a rotting-cabbage-like smell, that is added to the otherwise colorless and almost odorless hydrogen gas, so that leaks can be detected before a fire or explosion occurs. Odorants are considered non-toxic in the extremely low concentrations occurring in hydrogen gas delivered to the end user.
The approach is not new, for the same safety reasons the odorant tert-butyl mercaptan is used in natural gas.
See also
External links
- [http://www.freepatentsonline.com/EP1828355.html Odorant for hydrogen based on acrylate and acetophenone]
- [http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?IA=US2003024950&DISPLAY=STATUS Hydrogen Odorants and Odorant Selection Method]