Liquefied Petroleum Gas CAS 68476-85-7
Chelora Chemicals supplies propane, butane and LPG mixtures to fuel distributors, petrochemical crackers, aerosol producers and industrial users worldwide. Because LPG is a flammable liquefied gas, every consignment leaves with a batch-specific COA, the current SDS and full dangerous-goods documentation.
Also known as: LPG · Propane · Butane · Autogas · Cooking gas · Liquefied petroleum gas
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Price, lead time and a sample COA for Liquefied Petroleum Gas, usually within one working day. We ship worldwide.
Request a Quote Email the DeskDocumentation
- Batch-specific COA (composition, vapour pressure, sulphur, residue)
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
- Transport and dangerous-goods documents
- Third-party inspection on request
- Certificate of origin
What is Liquefied Petroleum Gas?
Liquefied petroleum gas is propane, butane, or a mixture of the two, liquefied under modest pressure for storage and transport. At ambient pressure both are gases; under a few bar they become liquids with roughly 250 times the energy density.
It comes from two sources: natural gas processing, where propane and butane are stripped from the gas stream, and refining, where they arise from several process units.
Three markets take almost all of it: domestic and commercial fuel for cooking and heating, petrochemical feedstock for cracking and propane dehydrogenation, and automotive fuel as autogas.
Propane and butane are not interchangeable in cold climates: propane vaporises down to −42 °C while butane stops at about 0 °C, which is why winter grades carry more propane.
Why LPG specifically
- High energy density when liquefied. Occupies about 1/250th of its gaseous volume, which is what makes cylinder distribution practical.
- Clean burning. Low sulphur and particulate emissions compared with liquid fuels and coal.
- Portable energy. Reaches places without gas grid or electricity infrastructure, which drives its domestic fuel role.
- Flexible between fuel and feedstock. Can go to cracking, dehydrogenation or fuel depending on relative values.
How Liquefied Petroleum Gas is Manufactured
LPG is recovered from natural gas processing and from refinery operations, then fractionated and treated.
- Natural gas processing. Propane and butane are separated from the gas stream in NGL recovery units.
- Refinery production. Crude distillation, catalytic cracking, reforming and other units all produce LPG streams.
- Fractionation. A deethaniser, depropaniser and debutaniser train separates the individual components.
- Sweetening. Amine treating and caustic washing remove hydrogen sulphide and mercaptans.
- Drying. Molecular sieve or glycol drying prevents hydrate formation in cold storage and transfer.
- Odorisation. Ethyl mercaptan is added for fuel grades so leaks can be detected by smell.
Typical Commercial Specification
Figures below are representative of commercial propane. Butane, mixtures and petrochemical-grade material differ — tell us the application and we will send the matching sheet.
| Parameter | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless liquefied gas |
| Propane content (commercial propane) | 95% min by volume |
| Butane content (commercial butane) | 95% min by volume for butane grades |
| Vapour pressure at 40 °C | Typically 1430 kPa max for propane |
| Total sulphur | To grade, typically 50 to 185 ppm depending on specification |
| Hydrogen sulphide | Pass copper strip corrosion test |
| Residue on evaporation | 0.05 mL per 100 mL max |
| Moisture | Pass valve freeze test |
| Odorant | Ethyl mercaptan, present and detectable for fuel grades |
| Propylene content | To grade; low for fuel, higher in refinery grades |
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Composition | Propane C₃H₈ and butane C₄H₁₀ |
| Molecular weight | 44.1 g/mol propane; 58.1 g/mol butane |
| Appearance | Colourless gas; colourless liquid under pressure |
| Boiling point | −42 °C propane; −0.5 °C n-butane |
| Vapour pressure at 20 °C | About 8.4 bar propane; 2.1 bar butane |
| Liquid density | About 0.51 g/cm³ propane at 15 °C |
| Gas density (relative to air) | 1.5 propane, 2.0 butane — heavier than air |
| Flammable limits in air | About 2.1 to 9.5% propane; 1.8 to 8.4% butane |
| Autoignition temperature | About 470 °C propane |
| Expansion ratio | About 250 to 1 from liquid to gas |
| Incompatibilities | Oxidisers, chlorine, strong acids |
Behaviour in the process
LPG's behaviour in a release is what drives its safety regime:
- Heavier than air. Escaped gas sinks and accumulates in basements, pits and drains rather than dispersing upward.
- 250 to 1 expansion. A small liquid release produces a very large flammable vapour cloud.
- No natural odour. Odorant is added specifically so that leaks can be detected; its presence is a safety specification.
- Cold burns from liquid. Rapid evaporation of released liquid freezes skin on contact.
LPG Grades and Alternatives
LPG is bought by composition, and the right composition depends on climate and application.
| Material | Origin / type | When it is the right choice |
|---|---|---|
| Commercial propane | 95%+ propane | Cold climates, autogas and applications needing vaporisation below 0 °C |
| Commercial butane | 95%+ butane | Warm climates, aerosol propellant and lighter fuel |
| Propane-butane mixtures | Varying ratio | Seasonal domestic fuel blends tuned to local climate |
| Petrochemical-grade propane | Low propylene and sulphur | Propane dehydrogenation and cracker feed |
| Natural gas | Methane | Where grid supply is available; LPG serves where it is not |
Stated plainly: propane works where butane will not, which is why cold-climate markets specify it and why winter blends shift toward it. For aerosol and petrochemical use the specification is about purity rather than vaporisation.
Industries We Supply Liquefied Petroleum Gas To
LPG serves domestic fuel, petrochemicals, transport and industry.
Where Liquefied Petroleum Gas is Used
Domestic and commercial fuel takes the largest LPG share globally, with petrochemical feedstock use growing fastest.
As petrochemical feedstock
Propane is cracked for ethylene or dehydrogenated to propylene in PDH units. Propane dehydrogenation has expanded substantially because ethane cracking produces little propylene, leaving a structural gap that PDH fills. Feedstock specifications for PDH are tighter than for fuel, particularly on sulphur and propylene content.
Cylinder vaporisation
LPG draws from a cylinder as vapour, with liquid evaporating to replace it. The rate depends on temperature and on the propane fraction: a butane-rich mixture simply stops vaporising near 0 °C, leaving liquid in an apparently empty cylinder. This is why seasonal blends and cold-climate propane grades exist.
Need a specific grade, purity and packing format?
Tell us the grade, the composition, climate and whether fuel or petrochemical grade is required, the packing format you can receive and the annual quantity. We will come back with a price, a lead time, a sample COA and the full documentation set.
Quality Control & Testing
Every lot is released against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis, with composition and sulphur reported because both matter for fuel performance and catalyst protection.
- Hydrocarbon composition — by gas chromatography, defining the grade and vaporisation behaviour.
- Vapour pressure — confirming the product meets the storage and equipment design basis.
- Total sulphur and hydrogen sulphide — measured for corrosion, odour and catalyst protection.
- Copper strip corrosion — confirming absence of corrosive sulphur species.
- Residue on evaporation — confirming freedom from heavy ends that foul vaporisers.
- Moisture and odorant — the valve freeze test and odorant presence for fuel grades.
Common Process Problems & Likely Causes
When LPG causes trouble, it is usually composition, moisture or heavy ends. This table is the shortcut our technical desk works through before anyone opens a complaint file.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Cylinder stops delivering gas in cold weather | Butane-rich mixture failing to vaporise | Composition against the ambient temperature |
| Regulator or valve freezing | Moisture in the product forming hydrates or ice | Moisture result and valve freeze test |
| Residue in vaporisers or burners | Heavy ends above specification | Residue on evaporation figure |
| Corrosion of brass fittings | Hydrogen sulphide or corrosive sulphur | Copper strip corrosion and sulphur results |
| PDH catalyst deactivating | Sulphur or contaminants in the feed | Sulphur figure against the petrochemical specification |
| Leak not detected by smell | Odorant absent, depleted or absorbed on tank walls | Odorant level and odour fade testing |
Packaging, Storage & Shipping
- Standard packing. Cylinders, bullets, ISO tank containers, pressurised road tankers and refrigerated bulk cargoes.
- Pressure storage. Stored as a liquid under its own vapour pressure, or fully refrigerated for very large volumes.
- Heavier-than-air vapour. Site layout must avoid basements, pits and drains where escaped gas can accumulate.
- Separation distances. Bulk storage requires defined separation distances and fire protection under national codes.
- Odorisation. Fuel grades must carry detectable odorant; odour fade onto new tank walls is a known phenomenon to check.
- Material compatibility. Carbon steel is standard; some elastomers are attacked, so use LPG-rated seals and hoses.
- Shelf life. Indefinite in a sealed pressurised system.
- Transport classification. UN 1075, petroleum gases liquefied, Class 2.1 flammable gas.
Hazards & Safe Handling
LPG is a flammable liquefied gas that is heavier than air and expands roughly 250 times on vaporisation. Its hazards are physical — fire, explosion and asphyxiation — rather than toxicological.
- Flammability. Flammable from about 2% in air, with vapour heavier than air that accumulates in low points and travels to ignition sources.
- Expansion ratio. Liquid expands about 250 times on vaporisation, so a small liquid leak creates a large flammable cloud.
- Asphyxiation. In confined spaces LPG displaces air; entry requires gas testing and confined space procedures.
- Cold burns. Liquid releases flash and freeze skin on contact; use insulated gloves and face protection during transfer.
- BLEVE risk. A vessel exposed to fire can fail catastrophically; water cooling and separation distances are designed for this.
- Odorant reliance. Leak detection depends on added odorant; odour fade onto new vessel walls is a known risk to verify.
- Static and ignition. Earth and bond during transfer and prohibit ignition sources in the hazardous zone.
- Environment. Not toxic to aquatic life but a greenhouse gas; prevent venting where possible.
Regulatory & Compliance Notes
LPG is regulated as a flammable gas with fuel quality, cylinder and installation rules in every market. The notes below are orientation rather than legal advice.
- GHS classification. Flammable gas Category 1 and gas under pressure (liquefied gas).
- Dangerous goods transport. UN 1075, Class 2.1. ADR, IMDG, IATA and DOT rules apply to cylinder and tank design, labelling and routing.
- Major hazard regulation. Bulk LPG storage falls under Seveso, COMAH and equivalent major accident regulations above threshold quantities.
- Fuel quality standards. Commercial propane and butane must meet EN 589, ASTM D1835 or equivalent national standards.
- Cylinder regulation. Cylinder design, testing, filling and periodic inspection are governed by national pressure equipment rules.
- Autogas regulation. Automotive LPG is subject to fuel specification and vehicle conversion approval requirements.
We Supply Liquefied Petroleum Gas Worldwide
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and export partner, not a single-plant trader. We ship Liquefied Petroleum Gas from India and from partner sources to customers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and North and South America, handling the export documentation, transport paperwork and freight so the material arrives ready to use.
- Incoterms. EXW, FOB, CIF, CFR and DAP quoted to suit your purchasing terms and freight arrangements.
- Ports. Regular shipments through Nhava Sheva (JNPT) and Mundra, with other ports arranged where routing and cargo rules allow.
- Documentation. Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, COA, SDS and the transport declaration issued as a complete set.
- Flexible volumes. From a single cylinder or ISO tank up to repeat bulk shipments on a supply contract.
- Supply continuity. Because we are independent of any one producer, a plant turnaround or a shipping disruption at one source does not have to become your stock-out.
Buying Liquefied Petroleum Gas from Chelora
We are an independent sourcing and supply partner. For LPG that means settling three things at enquiry: the composition your climate and application require, whether fuel or petrochemical specification applies, and the pressurised or refrigerated logistics your receiving facility can handle.
- Documentation on every lot. Batch-specific COA (composition, vapour pressure, sulphur, residue), plus SDS and the full transport paperwork.
- Analysis before commitment. Representative analysis shared ahead of a commercial order so your lab can qualify the material.
- Quantities. From a single cylinder or ISO tank through to full bulk shipments on contract supply.
- Grade matching. Commercial propane, commercial butane, a seasonal mixture or petrochemical grade to the composition and sulphur limits your application requires.
- Inspection. Independent third-party inspection available at loading when the contract requires it.
- Related products. Naphtha, Propylene, Isobutylene and other feedstocks alongside Liquefied Petroleum Gas from one supplier.
How ordering works
- Send the enquiry. Product, grade or purity, quantity, destination port and the Incoterm you buy on. If you have a spec sheet, attach it — it saves a round trip.
- We quote. Price, lead time, packing format and a sample COA, normally within one working day.
- Qualify the supply. For first orders or critical applications, we share the analysis and handling documentation so your technical and safety teams can sign off before you commit.
- Confirm the order. Proforma invoice issued; payment terms agreed against the volume and the relationship.
- Allocation and QC. Material allocated and released against a batch-specific COA, with an independent inspection where the contract calls for it.
- Ship and document. Filled, labelled and loaded with the full export document set, and tracked through to arrival.
Liquefied Petroleum Gas — Common Questions
The questions our technical desk is asked most often about Liquefied Petroleum Gas. If yours isn't here, call or email and you will reach someone who knows the chemistry.
What is the CAS number of LPG?
Liquefied petroleum gas is commonly given CAS 68476-85-7, with EC number 270-704-2. Propane is CAS 74-98-6 and n-butane 106-97-8. LPG is classified under HS code 2711.19.
What is LPG used for?
For domestic and commercial cooking and heating, as petrochemical feedstock for steam cracking and propane dehydrogenation, as automotive autogas, as aerosol propellant, and for industrial process heating and agriculture.
Do you supply LPG worldwide?
Yes. Chelora Chemicals supplies and exports LPG worldwide — across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, as well as throughout India, in cylinders, ISO tanks, pressurised tankers and refrigerated bulk.
What is the difference between propane and butane?
Propane boils at −42 °C and keeps vaporising in cold weather; butane boils at about 0 °C and stops delivering gas below that. Butane has higher energy per litre, which is why warm climates use it and cold climates specify propane.
Why does my cylinder stop working in cold weather?
Almost always because the mixture is butane rich and has stopped vaporising. The cylinder may still contain liquid but cannot produce vapour, which is why seasonal blends and cold-climate propane grades exist.
How is LPG produced?
By stripping propane and butane from natural gas in NGL recovery units, and from refinery processes including crude distillation and catalytic cracking, followed by fractionation, sweetening, drying and odorisation.
Is LPG hazardous?
Yes. It is a flammable liquefied gas, heavier than air so it accumulates in basements and pits, and it expands about 250 times on vaporisation. Its hazards are physical rather than toxicological.
What are the UN number and transport class?
UN 1075, petroleum gases liquefied, Class 2.1 flammable gas. ADR, IMDG, IATA and DOT rules apply to cylinder and tank design, labelling and routing.
Why is odorant added to LPG?
Because LPG has no natural odour and leaks would otherwise be undetectable. Ethyl mercaptan is added to fuel grades, and odorant presence is a safety specification rather than a quality nicety.
What is odour fade?
Loss of odorant by adsorption onto new or rusty vessel walls, which can leave LPG without its warning smell. It is a recognised phenomenon in new installations and is checked for during commissioning.
What is propane dehydrogenation?
A process converting propane directly to propylene, built in response to the propylene shortfall created by ethane cracking. It takes petrochemical-grade propane with tighter sulphur and contaminant limits than fuel grade.
What supply formats are available?
Cylinders, bullets, ISO tank containers, pressurised road tankers and refrigerated bulk cargoes. Orders run from a single cylinder up to full bulk shipments on contract supply.
Ready to source Liquefied Petroleum Gas?
Send us your specification, grade and annual volume. You will get a price, a realistic lead time and a sample COA from someone who understands what the material has to do in your process — delivered anywhere in the world.