Mercaptan

Figure 1. A model of mercaptan. Here the yellow represents sulfur, the black represents carbon, and the white represents hydrogen.[1]

Mercaptan, also known as methanethiol is a foul-smelling gas that is added to natural gas. Since natural gas is colourless and odourless, mercaptan acts as an odorant to make it easier to detect.[2] It is added as a safety measure to ensure that natural gas leaks do not go undetected. It is an organic gas composed of carbon, hydrogen, and sulfur. Mercaptan is found naturally in living organisms, including the human body where it is a waste product of metabolism.

Mercaptans bond strongly with mercury compounds, and most release strong odours that resemble garlic or rotting cabbage.[3] These compounds are detectable by the human nose at concentrations as small as only 10 parts per billion, making them an effective odourant.[2] Natural gas distributors began adding these mercaptans to natural gas after a deadly school explosion in 1937 at the New London School in New London, Texas. Currently, most gas odorants are mixtures of mercaptans and sulfides.[3]

Although many mercaptans have foul odours, there are exceptions. For example, "grapefruit mercaptan" is responsible for the characteristic scent of grapefruit.[3]

For Further Reading

References

  1. Wikimedia Commons. (June 15, 2015). Methanethiol [Online]. Available: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Methanethiol-3D-balls.png#/media/File:Methanethiol-3D-balls.png
  2. 2.0 2.1 Columbia Gas. (June 15, 2015). What is Mercaptan [Online]. Available: https://www.columbiagasohio.com/stay-safe/what-to-do-when-you-smell-gas/what-is-mercaptan-
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 Maria Mergel. (June 15, 2015). Mercaptans [Online]. Available: http://www.toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Mercaptans