What Is Ethane Gas?
Ethane gas is an organic compound with the molecular formula C2H6 and the structural formula CH3-CH3.
The molecule can rotate around its long axis and no isomers exist. Under standard conditions of temperature and pressure, it is a colorless, odorless gas with a boiling point of -88.5 °C and a melting point of -182.8 °C.
It is separated by distillation of natural gas, coal gas, and petroleum cracking gas. It is a colorless, odorless gas that is flammable and explosive.
Ethane gas alone is not widely used, but it is used as a raw material for ethylene in many petrochemical products.
History of Ethane Gas
Ethane gas was first synthesized by Michael Faraday in 1834 by electrolysis of an aqueous solution of potassium acetate. Naturally, ethane gas was discovered dissolved in Pennsylvania light oil by Edmund Ronald in 1864.
Properties of Ethane Gas
Ethane is insoluble in water and soluble in organic solvents. It is stable in both carbon-hydrogen and carbon-carbon bonds and is not highly reactive. It hardly reacts with oxidants, reducing agents, acids, and bases, but light irradiation and heating cause conversion reactions.
Also, when completely combusted, carbon dioxide and water are produced.
C2H6 + 7/2 O2 → 2 CO2 + 3 H2O
Process of Ethane Gas
Ethane is the second most abundant substance in natural gas after methane. Like other alkanes, it is industrially obtained by fractional distillation of natural gas. The content of ethane gas varies from less than 1% to more than 6%, depending on the gas field.
Before the 1960s, ethane and larger molecules in natural gas were not separated and were generally simply used as fuel along with methane. Today, ethane is an important petrochemical feedstock and is most often separated from other components in natural gas.
Specifically, ethane can be efficiently separated from methane by liquefying it at very low temperatures.
Ethane can also be separated from petroleum gas (a gaseous hydrocarbon mixture), which is a byproduct of oil refining.
In a laboratory setting, ethane gas is produced by electrolysis of an aqueous acetate solution.
2 CH3COONa + 2 H2O → C2H6 + 2 CO2 + H2 + 2 NaOH
Uses of Ethane Gas
Ethane is used as a raw material for various chemicals, especially in the production of ethylene. Ethylene is used as an intermediate product in the petrochemical industry, mostly as a raw material for synthetic fibers and organic chemical products. It is also used as a raw material for polyethylene bags, household goods made from polyvinyl chloride, clothing, insulation, electrical wire sheathing, water pipes, synthetic rubber, and many other products around us. Ethylene gas is also utilized for ripening vegetables and fruits.
Ethane gas may also be used as a fuel for power generation, either alone or mixed with natural gas.