What is Carbon Dioxide Used For?

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is used in many industries, from food and beverage production to manufacturing and healthcare. This versatile gas has found its way to various processes, so it’s hard to imagine everyday life without it.

To explain why this is the case, our guide discusses the most important applications of carbon dioxide. You’ll learn how it can benefit your operations whether you’re welding different metals, maintaining food freshness, or flash-freezing biological samples.

Food and Beverage: The Fizz Factor and Beyond

The food and beverage industry is among the biggest users of carbon dioxide, and it’s where you’ve likely encountered the gas many times. Every time you enjoy a sparkling drink, you’re tasting CO2 in action.

But it’s not just about adding bubbles to beverages – CO2 also plays a crucial role in food preservation and packaging. It creates an inert environment that prevents bacterial growth and helps maintain product freshness.

Besides gas, food manufacturers often use CO2 in its solid form (dry ice) for freezing and transportation. This method is particularly effective because dry ice transitions directly from a solid to a gas, leaving no liquid residue that could contaminate products.

Manufacturing and Welding: Protection and Precision

In manufacturing, CO2 helps create better, stronger products. It’s commonly used in welding, where it acts as a shielding gas.

Mixed with argon, CO2 creates the perfect environment for MIG/MAG welding. It protects the weld puddle from oxidation and helps achieve higher welding rates. This means faster production times and better-quality welds.

Many manufacturers also use CO2 in metalworking processes. It helps harden casting molds and provides anti-corrosive properties that extend the life of finished products.

Medical and Laboratory Applications: Life-Saving Uses

In healthcare settings, carbon dioxide proves its worth in several critical applications, such as:

• Respiratory support: when combined with medical-grade oxygen, carbon dioxide helps stimulate breathing in patients with respiratory issues.
• Preserving biological samples: laboratories rely on CO2 for preserving biological samples through flash freezing. It’s also crucial for maintaining the proper environment in incubators used for cell culture work.
• Diagnostic applications: special CO2 mixtures help doctors assess lung function in patients with respiratory conditions like COPD.

Environmental and Specialty Applications

CO2 has become increasingly important in environmental applications. It’s more environmentally friendly than traditional chemicals like sodium hydroxide, it’s used in water treatment facilities to control pH levels.

Other specialized applications of CO2 include:

• Cleaning: carbon dioxide enables dry ice blasting, which offers a non-toxic way to clean industrial equipment and remove contaminants. This method is particularly valuable because it leaves no secondary waste.
• Oil recovery: the petroleum industry uses CO2 for enhanced oil recovery because it helps make oil less viscous and easier to extract from wells. This application has the added benefit of sequestering CO2 underground, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Synthetic fuels: researchers are exploring the potential of CO2 as a raw material for synthetic fuels, which could help reduce dependence on traditional fossil fuels.

Source Your CO2 From a Reputable Vendor

When you need a reliable CO2 supply for your industrial, medical, or specialty applications, working with a trusted supplier is crucial. The right partner will ensure you have the right grade of CO2 for your needs, whether it’s high-purity gas for medical applications or industrial-grade CO2 for manufacturing processes.

Different applications require different grades of CO2, and it’s essential to work with a supplier who understands these distinctions. The quality and purity of your CO2 supply can significantly impact your operations’ success and safety.