Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Gases
Ethane
is an odourless gas which is used as a refrigerant and as a component of natural
gas. It is methane (swamp gas),
however, which is the major component of natural gas. Both are odourless gases
and produce simple asphyxiation at high concentrations. Conversion of domestic
gas from coal gas (mostly carbon monoxide) to natural gas (mostly methane) has
significantly reduced mortality from domestic gas leaks, since methane is much
less toxic as compared to carbon monoxide. Methane being odourless, a stenching
agent (alkyl mercaptan) is deliberately added to domestic gas so that leaks can
be immediately recognised. It is important to remember that a build-up of
methane resulting in 4.8 to 13.5% concentration in air constitutes an explosive
mixture which can be ignited by a flame or even a tiny spark. Most explosions
in mines (as well as homes using natural gas as fuel) occur because of this
reason.
Butane,
liquefied petroleum gas, propane, and propylene have a faint petroleum-like
odour and may be stenched with mercaptans for transport and
storage. Butane is used as a raw material for automobile fuels, in organic
synthesis, and as a solvent, refrigerant, and aerosol. Propane is used as a raw
material in organic synthesis, as a component of industrial and domestic fuels,
as an extractant, a solvent, and a refrigerant, and in the manufacture of ethylene.
Incomplete combustion of these agents can release carbon monoxide into the
ambient air. Butane is often abused by adolescents in the form of inhalation.
Liquefied
petroleum gas is used as a domestic, industrial, and automotive fuel. Propylene
is a raw material in polypro-pylene, isopropyl alcohol, isopropylbenzene,
acetone, and propylene oxide manufacturing.
Most
of the aliphatic hydrocarbon gases act as simple asphyxi-ants (vide supra), in addition to additional
specific toxicities.
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