What is added to natural gas to provide it with a detectable odor?

Natural gas is naturally odorless, which raises safety concerns regarding gas leaks. To address this issue, a substance known as mercaptan is added to natural gas to provide a strong, distinctive odor that is easily detectable even at very low concentrations. This characteristic makes it possible for individuals to notice a gas leak quickly, prompting immediate action to ensure safety.

Mercaptan, also referred to as odorant, has a powerful smell often likened to rotten eggs, which serves as an effective alert for potential gas hazards. The use of mercaptan is a crucial safety measure in the natural gas industry, ensuring that leaks can be identified rapidly before they lead to dangerous situations.

Other substances mentioned, such as ethane, propane, and butane, do not have the same qualities or effectiveness as mercaptan in terms of providing an immediate and strong odor for leak detection. These gases are typically components of natural gas but are not used specifically for odorization. Therefore, mercaptan is the recognized and standard additive for making natural gas odor detectable.