EMERGENCY OVERVIEW Methane is a colourless, flammable, nontoxic gas with a sweet, oil-type odor. Methane is the first member of the paraffin series of hydrocarbons. It is the major constituent of natural gas. The gas is normally shipped as a nonliquefied gas in high pressure cylinders at 15,620 kPa (2 265psig) at 21.1 °C. It is occasionally shipped in bulk as a cryogenic liquid. Methane is useful in the testing of gas appliances which are to be used in natural gas areas. It is one of the raw materials used in the production of ethanol, methyl chloride, methylene chloride, and is also used to produce ammonia and acetylene. High purity methane is burned to form a high quality carbon black which is used in a variety of electronic components. |
