Propane

A colorless, flammable, liquefied, hydrocarbon gas.

Propane is a minor component in most natural gas found in the United States and Canada. Its average concentration ranges from about 0.1% to as high as 4%, although some individual gas wells may record even higher local concentrations.

To make natural gas suitable for compression and pipeline transportation, it must be “cleaned” in a stripping process that removes nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and moisture. In this process, almost all the hydrocarbons besides methane (CH4) are also removed, leaving a clean dry gas stream that is odorized with some combination of mercaptans, and contains an average heating value of about 1000 British Thermal Units (BTU’s) per standard cubic foot. The separated hydrocarbons may undergo further separation, at least separating the liquid hydrocarbons (C5’s and higher) from the traditional lower boiling point components of ethane, propane and the butanes. This mixture is either transported by pipeline for further separation, or is distilled at the midstream processing plant separating the mixture into three parts: ethane, propane, and a mixture of n-butane and iso-butane. Because propane has become so widely accepted as an economical heating and cooking fuel, this separated product is often then transported directly from the processing plant into the existing transportation and distribution system for this fuel.

Higher purities of Propane, including Chemically Pure (C.P.), Instrument (2.5) and Research Grades (3.0 and 4.0) are used as calibration gases for accurate heat measurement and research, and organic chemical manufacturing research and development, including propylene and propylene oxide synthesis. , High purity propane is also used as a component in highly accurate mixtures, to calibrate total hydrocarbon analyzers in the industrial hygiene industry. Propane is also gaining rapid acceptance as a natural refrigerant, with a Global Warming Potential (GWP) significantly lower than many of the synthetic hydrofluorocarbons used today.

For further details about PurityPlus^® Propane and its availability, call PurityPlus^® Specialty Gases by Weldstar at 708-627-1007 or contact us online.