HOW LONG HAS GASODOR® S-FREE BEEN ALREADY IN USE?

Gasodor® S-Free was already developed in the mid-1990s to offer gas utilities a sulphur-free alternative. Great importance was attached to certified quality, the design of the odour - the consumer should immediately identify it with gas and not confuse it - and its technical suitability for use in gas supply.

 

WHY ARE ODORANTS NEEDED AT ALL?

Since natural gas has not had its own characteristic odour for a long time, so-called odorants are added to warn of leaking natural gas and ensure the safety of gas consumers. In the past, these agents often smelled of rotten eggs due to their sulphur content. Today, natural gas generally smells of sulphur-free odorants, such as Gasodor® S-Free.

WHAT SUBSTANCES DOES GASODOR® S-FREE CONSIST OF?

It consists of a mixture of two acrylates and a pryazine. The materials were selected so that they smell unpleasant and mix well with natural gas. Due to the sulphur-free composition of the odorant, Gasodor® S-Free is more environmentally and climate-friendly than sulphur-containing agents such as THT or mercaptans.

 

WHO DEVELOPED GASODOR® S-FREE?

Gasodor® S-Free was developed by Symrise AG in collaboration with E.ON Ruhrgas AG Essen and the German Association of Gas and Water Industries (Deutsche Vereinigung des Gas- und Wasserfaches e.V. (DGVW)) in Bonn. Today, Th. Geyer Ingredients produces Gasodor® S-Free and the DBVW has certified the product.

 

IS GASODOR® S-FREE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY?

Yes, especially when compared to sulphur-containing odorants such as THT or TBM. The combustion of THT produces sulphur dioxide which is harmful to the environment. The combustion of natural gas produces about 600 metric tons of this harmful gas annually. The use of sulphur-free odorants, such as Gasodor® S-Free, helps to reduce sulphur emissions in the long term.

 

IS GASODOR® S-FREE CERTIFIED?

Yes, Gasodor® S-Free is certified according to DIN EN ISO 13734 and listed in the DVGW worksheet G280.

 

WHAT DOES GASODOR® S-FREE SMELL LIKE?

It has a characteristic, technically unpleasant warning smell to prevent any confusion with usual everyday smells. If you know exactly what it smells like or you want to inform your customers, we recommend the odour cards produced by the DGVW.

 

DO CONSUMER DETECT GASODOR® S-FREE AS A WARNING ODOUR?

Yes. The DGVW tested Gasodor® S-Free extensively before it was launched. With clear results: 80 percent of test persons felt that Gasodor® S-Free reminded them of gas. During the development of the odorant, great care was taken to ensure that it cannot be confused with everyday odours. Another important indicator for the safety of an odorant is the reporting frequency of actual or suspected leakages. The Engler-Bunte-Institut (Karlsruhe) therefore examined whether the reporting frequency would change after switching to Gasodor® S-Free. They found out that there was the same number or even more reports after the switch (Source: Magazine energie wasser praxis, issue 09/2008). Therefore, Gasodor® S-Free is detected by the population as a warning odour. The increase in the frequency of reports may also be due to the extensive information campaign conducted during the switch.

 

WHAT DOES NATURAL GAS SMELL LIKE?

Natural gas has long since lost its own characteristic odour. For this reason, so-called odorants or odorous substances are added to warn of leaking natural gas and ensure the safety of gas consumers. Some substances smell like rotten eggs due to their sulphur content.

 

WHAT IS THE IMPORTANT CONSIDERATION TO INTRODUCE GASODOR® S-FREE?

To ensure the successful use of Gasodor® S-Free it is vital to inform the population in good time about the new warning smell. In the end, the more familiar the smell is, the better it is detected. Therefore, multipliers such as the fire brigade, police, craftsmen and the press should also be informed. Information for new citizens or new customers is also helpful. Scent samples are available from the DVGW.

 

ARE THERE OTHER POSSIBLE USES FOR GASODOR® S-FREE?

Yes, natural gas filling stations can also operate with Gasodor® S-Free odourised natural gas. The sulphur-free natural gas odorant makes a major contribution to compliance with the statutory sulphur requirements for motor fuels.