A hydrogen odorant in any form, is a minute amount of
odorant
An aroma compound, also known as an odorant, aroma, fragrance or flavoring, is a chemical compound that has a smell or odor. For an individual chemical or class of chemical compounds to impart a smell or fragrance, it must be sufficiently vol ...
such as
ethyl isobutyrate, with a rotting-cabbage-like smell, that is added to the otherwise
color
Color (American English) or colour (British English) is the visual perceptual property deriving from the spectrum of light interacting with the photoreceptor cells of the eyes. Color categories and physical specifications of color are assoc ...
less and almost
odorless hydrogen gas, so that
leak
A leak is a way (usually an opening) for fluid to escape a container or fluid-containing system, such as a tank or a ship's hull, through which the contents of the container can escape or outside matter can enter the container. Leaks are usually ...
s 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
Natural gas (also called fossil gas or simply gas) is a naturally occurring mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons consisting primarily of methane in addition to various smaller amounts of other higher alkanes. Low levels of trace gases like carbo ...
.
See also
*
Hydrogen safety
*
Odor detection threshold
The odor detection threshold is the lowest concentration of a certain odor compound that is perceivable by the human sense of smell. The threshold of a chemical compound is determined in part by its shape, polarity, partial charges, and molecu ...
External links
Odorant for hydrogen based on acrylate and acetophenoneHydrogen Odorants and Odorant Selection Method
Hydrogen technologies