Cryogenic blasting (non-abrasive blast cleaning of various surfaces)
Cooling for transportation and storage of meat, fish and fruit products. Dry ice has a freezing ability many times greater than the freezing ability of water ice. Frozen meat, fish and fruit products
Air Food Storage
Bakery industry. Dry ice slows down the growth of yeast bacteria until a certain time
Branding cattle and horses
Emergency replacement of faulty refrigerators and freezers
Carbonization of drinks (soda, cocktails)
Moderator of chemical reactions. Low temperature slows down the process of certain chemical reactions. For example, dry ice is used to transport certain adhesives or as a neutralizing agent for alkali. Chemical pressure boosting agent. When dry ice evaporates, it expands about 800 times and absorbs heat. It can be used to create excess pressure in tanks. FOR QUALIFIED STAFF ONLY!
Cleaning molded plastics and rubbers
Dry food storage. During prolonged storage of dry food in a sealed container creates an environment that prevents the development of mold and insects.
Creating special effects in show business, photography, etc.
Fighting rodents. If granular dry ice is poured into a rodent's hole, after some time carbon dioxide will displace oxygen from it. To achieve the full effect, you need to make sure that the hole is not through.
Preservation of colors. Dry ice cools the flowers and delays the moment of their blossoming (flowering). Maintaining a stable low temperature significantly slows down the flowering process. To avoid freezing, direct contact of flowers with dry ice should not be allowed.
Removing floor tiles. Ceramic tiles can be removed from the floor by pouring a little dry ice onto its surface. Tiles are removed more easily due to cooling and compression. This procedure can take a long time to remove a large number of tiles, but in order to remove 1-2 tiles, it is very convenient.
Storage of catch and hunting
Used as an inert medium. Since carbon dioxide is heavier than air and does not support combustion, dry ice is used to displace oxygen from some containers, for example, to dismantle underground tanks with combustible gases or liquids.
Dismantling metal parts. Dry ice is used to remove some metal parts, such as bearings or bushings. It is necessary to add dry ice to 90% alcohol so that it cools to about -78.5 ° C. Then it can be used like liquid nitrogen to disassemble parts.
Medical industry. It is used for storage and transportation of medicines.
Growing plants. Feeding greenhouse plants with carbon dioxide
In the field of funeral services.
Computer processor cooling
For entertainment purposes: When the metal comes in direct contact with dry ice, the metal begins to make a loud piercing sound. This experiment can be carried out by putting a metal spoon in dry ice. You can pour a little water into a spoon in order to observe the process of its freezing. Be careful, because with prolonged contact, the spoon is so cooled that it can damage the skin by direct contact. Misty bubbles. When a soap solution is added to a mixture of water and dry ice, bubbles form with dense fog. Shot. If you pour a few granules of dry ice into a plastic box from the film, close it with a lid and wait a bit, the lid can shoot for several meters. In the same way, rockets with water can be launched, but special devices are needed for this. Inflating a rubber balloon or balloon. You can pour a little dry ice into a ball, close it tightly and throw it into a pool or some kind of pond. At first, the ball will sink, but as it is filled with gas it will rise to the surface and explode. Sound lens. A balloon filled with carbon dioxide can work like a sonic lens. The fact is that in carbon dioxide, sound moves slower than in air, just like light moves slower through glass than through air or vacuum. You can get a ball filled with carbon dioxide. putting some dry ice in it. Keep the ball filled with carbon dioxide at a distance of about 30 cm from the ear - the sounds passing through it should be amplified. As you can see, the uses of dry ice are simply countless! Almost any production and many types of businesses are potential consumers of dry ice and can significantly increase their competitive advantages and the advantages of their products.
Properties and specifics of the manufacture of solid carbon dioxide
CO2 crystallizes at temperatures below -78.3 ºС. At the same time, the main properties of the gas are preserved:
- lack of smell and taste,
- non toxicity
- incombustibility.
Under normal atmospheric pressure, carbon dioxide cannot be in a liquid state. This is the reason for the “dryness” effect, when a thick cloud of CO2 immediately forms from dry ice with increasing temperature. This process is called sublimation of the substance.
Attempts to obtain carbon dioxide in the solid phase date back to the middle of the 19th century, although it was possible to put this process on stream only in the next century, after which it was constantly improved. Today, the frozen carbon dioxide production chain looks like this:
- Under high pressure, the gas liquefies.
- Liquid CO2 enters the heat exchanger, where it is brought to the curing temperature.
- The resulting snow flakes are sent to molding, where they are converted into granules or ice blocks.
To store carbon dioxide in a frozen state, it is necessary to maintain appropriate temperature conditions, otherwise the process of sublimation is inevitable. For example, if dry ice is stored in an ordinary freezer, the evaporation rate varies from 1% to 10% per day.
Dry ice application
Under normal conditions, carbon dioxide cannot be solid for a long time, but the duration of sublimation is sufficient to cool other products during long-distance transport. A real boom in popularity arose in the 30s of the last century in the United States, when this substance was actively used in the transportation of food products by rail. Even taking into account the length of trips between the west and east coasts, carbon dioxide did an excellent job.
The cooling ability of carbon dioxide becomes useful during the outbound trade in ice cream or other perishable products. Even at airports they cannot do without this component, supplying them with thermal boxes, which are able to keep fresh lunches for many hours of flight.
Since dry white smoke forms during the evaporation of ice-cold carbon dioxide, this property is often used to create additional effects during photo shoots or shooting video clips. Also, this product is very popular in restaurant and bar business. With its help, the glasses are cooled, which was described in detail here.
The options for operating dry ice are not limited to the above examples, it is also often used for storing flowers, cleaning the surface from complex contaminants, storing and transporting medications, chemical experiments, etc.
Security questions
By itself, CO2 gas is safe for humans, however, when working with its chilled version, the following measures must be followed:
- Do not work without protective gloves.
- When storing and transporting large volumes of ice, the constant ventilation of the room should be monitored.
- Storage in sealed containers can cause them to rupture due to increased internal pressure.
- Direct cured CO2 must not be allowed to come into direct contact with food, as excessively low temperatures can lead to unforeseen reactions and decomposition of the product into components.
- To dispose of solid carbon dioxide, just leave it in a room with windows open and wait until it evaporates completely.
You can purchase carbon dioxide for the implementation of various industrial tasks at Promtehgaz, one of the leading suppliers of gas products and equipment in the Moscow region.
Dry ice at home
On an industrial scale, it is produced by cooling carbon dioxide under high pressure. At home, these processes cannot be performed because they require special equipment and the creation of certain conditions. However there are some ways to cook it at home.
It can be made independently using the right tools, using a CO 2 fire extinguisher or carbon dioxide under pressure in a cylinder. Subject to certain precautions, this process will not take you much time and effort!
Purpose of the substance
This substance is used primarily as a refrigerant, but it can also be used for various purposes, especially to create fog in concert venues. It is used for industrial purposes to cool or freeze large quantities of fish, meat and other perishable foods. With its help, frozen products are transported in special containers over long distances. Sometimes it is used in movies to create the effect of "boiling water."
It is also used:
- in motorsport for engine cooling,
- in cooling mixtures,
- with it slow down the melting of ice sculptures,
- in medicine to remove warts.
One of the most common uses is to generate artificial smoke. All you have to do is combine it with water. When it falls into the ice, it produces a hissing sound and a lot of CO 2 gas. This feature is often used for dancing, concerts and other places.
In addition to traditional applications, it is also used to control garden pestssuch as moles, gophers, and others that ruin your garden. To do this, put a few pieces of ice in each hole and cover it with soil. Do this with as many holes as possible.
If you need large blocks of ice, it is best to buy it from a commercial dealer. Dry ice is also sold in supermarkets and can be ordered online.
You need only three things, for its manufacture at home:
- fire extinguisher CO 2,
- fabric bag
- open area or ventilated area.
You need a CO 2 fire extinguisher, not a regular household fire extinguisher. It usually has a black plastic discharge funnel at the nozzle. Before using a fire extinguisher for your experiments, you must make sure that it contains carbon dioxide. There must be a special information sign on the body of the fire extinguisher. The use of other types of fire extinguishers does not give the desired result.
Protect hands, eyes and feet. Hard S.O. 2 is so cold that you may get frostbite or “burns” on contact with it. Before you begin, take care of the following things:
- thick gloves
- protective glasses,
- long sleeves and trousers,
- closed shoes.
extinguisher nozzle outlet funnel into the bag. Seal it with tape. Launch a fire extinguisher and watch the gas fill the pillowcase. Hold it for a few seconds. Gas will come out of the pillowcase. This is normal and safe if you stay in a ventilated area, as recommended. Remove the bag. Carefully remove the outlet funnel from the pillowcase. Hold the fabric tight against the funnel to wipe off any ice that adheres to it. At the bottom of the bag should be a small pile of dry ice. These are white, crumbly granules that look like polystyrene.
Clean it from the cloth and place it in a more convenient container for dry ice, such as a thermos. Do not close the container tightly, as the CO 2 gas pressure will tear open the lid. If you want to use the cover, do not press it firmly and do not twist.
Not all materials are suitable for storing solid CO 2. To preserve it, do not use containers made of thin porcelain, ceramic, or glass. Cold can cause these materials to contract and crack. Hard plastic containers (preferably special boxes) are best suited. Use a thermos without a cover.
If you cannot find a CO 2 fire extinguisher, this method can also be performed using compressed CO 2 in a cylinder used by welders. The procedure is almost identical. If you need a lot of ice, it might be worth investing in a plant that mainly consists of an outlet with a fabric bag.
Scope of dry ice
Dry ice is used to store food products that are transported, transported and stored in enterprises. With it, you can permanently preserve the freshness of meat, milk, ice cream, cool drinks. When transporting products, dry ice is placed with them in mobile refrigerators. The ice itself is in special protective cases. It is not toxic, hypoallergenic, has moderate antiseptic properties.
A table of approximate storage times for products in a standard thermally insulated container using dry ice.
When stored in confined spaces The resulting carbon dioxide displaces air due to its higher density. In high concentrations, this can lead to suffocation. Solid S.O. 2 has the property of rapidly evaporating and displacing oxygen.
You need to take filtered water, and then boil it twice. Boiling removes gases from the liquid. After boiling for the first time, allow the water to cool. Then boil again. Keep cooling water closed to prevent dust from entering.
