What causes the smell of skunk or rotten eggs when my propane tank is leaking or almost empty?
The element that causes this smell is an additive called methyl mercaptan (or methanethiol), CH3SH. It is added to the propane in order to detect a leak or when the tank is almost empty. Its presence is necessary because propane itself is odourless. N.B.: Methyl mercaptan is a colourless, flammable, liquefied gas that has a very strong smell. It is usually delivered in stainless steel containers. Propane and the environment Propane heats quickly. It is also economical and clean, and its effective combustion helps to reduce carbon residues to a minimum. The emissions produced by the combustion of a clean fuel such as propane easily meet the Environment Canada standards for clean air and are less harmful to the environment than other energy sources. Propane and other energy sources Propane costs up to 10 percent less than electricity. In addition, propane could also be called an unlimited energy source…which is reassuring in view of the increasingly frequent incidence of power drop-off o
