Ethylene detection
Ethylene – also known as ethene – is a sweet-smelling, colourless gas from the group of alkenes, unsaturated hydrocarbons with a double carbon bond. It is obtained by steam cracking, a petrochemical process in which long-chain hydrocarbons such as naphtha and gas oil, butane, propane or ethane are converted into short-chain hydrocarbons in the presence of water vapor. However, plants and fruits such as ripe bananas and apples can produce ethylenen. It is important as a phytohormone and ripening gas.
Use of ethylene
Today, ethylene is one of the most produced organic basic chemicals. It is used for example for the production of primary downstream products such as polyethylene, styrene, ethylene oxide and olefins. Overall, around three quarters of the ethylene production is used for plastics. In Europe, Germany is the largest producer, followed by France and England. Some of it is transported through pipelines between chemical industry locations, for example from Rotterdam via Antwerp to the Cologne area, the Rhine-Main region and Ludwigshafen.
The gas is a component of some pesticides and is used in the food industry to ripen stored fruit such as apples, tomatoes or bananas.
Properties of ethylene
Ethylene is only badly soluble in water, but is well soluble in organic solvents. Its sweet odour is generally perceived as unpleasant by humans. The gas is highly flammable and burns in the open air with a bright, slightly sooty flame. It forms explosive mixtures with air between 3 to 36 %. It must always be stored in well-ventilated areas and kept away from sources of ignition. Measures must also be taken to prevent electrostatic charging. In high concentrations, ethylene has an anesthetic effect. In earlier times, it was used in a similar way to nitrous oxide, but is no longer used in this area today due to its flammability and unpleasant odour.
Accurate ethylene measuring devices from Compur
A highly flammable and explosive gas such as ethylene poses a risk to human life and production facilities of all kinds if handled carelessly. Permanent measurements of the concentration in air are therefore essential wherever ethylene is used. Compur Monitors has precise measuring devices for this purpose – Statox 501 sensor heads.
Dr. Josef von Stackelberg
Managing Director COMPUR MONITORS GmbH & Co. KG
Contact us without obligation
Do you have any questions about our products or would you like a non-binding consultation? We look forward to hearing from you.