(CO₂)  Carbon Dioxide

A colorless, liquefied, high-pressure gas which is slightly acidic and is shipped at its vapor pressure of 830 psi at 70°F. It is relatively nonreactive and nontoxic. It will not burn, and it will not support combustion or life. Solid carbon dioxide ("dry ice") at atmospheric pressure transforms directly to a gas without passing through the liquid phase.

• Solid carbon is used quite extensively to refrigerate dairy products, meat products, frozen foods and other perishable foods while in transit. It is also used as a cooling agent in many industrial processes. such as grinding heat sensitive materials, rubber tumbling of machinery parts, vacuum cold straps and so on.

  Gaseous Carbon Dioxide is used to carbonate softdrinks, for pH control in water treatment, in chemical processing, as a food preservative, as an inert "blanket" in chemical and food processing and metal welding. as a growth stimulant for plant life, for hardening molds and cores in foundries, and in pneumatic devices.

• Liquid Carbon Dioxide is used as an expendable refrigerant for freezing and chilling food products; for low temperature testing of aviation, missile and electronic components; for stimulation of oil and gas wells; for rubber tumbling; and for controlling chemical reactions. Liquid carbon dioxide is also used as a fire-extinguishing agent in portable and built-in fire-extinguishing systems.

• CO₂ is recovered from many different sources. It is obtained as off-gases from fermentation processes, limestone kiln gases, natural CO₂ wells, combustion gases from coke ovens, burning of natural gas and various oils, as well as gas streams from chemical and petrochemical operations. CO₂ is purified and liquefied be at least seven different processes.

• Liquefied carbon dioxide is shipped in cylinders, insulated portable tanks, insulated cargo tanks, and insulated tank cars. In high pressure supply systems it may be stored and used from single or manifolded cylinders. In low pressure systems it is stored insulated pressure vessels with controlled refrigeration systems and auxiliary heating when required.

  Normally, solid blocks of carbon dioxide weighing 50-60 lbs. (22.7-27.2 kg) are wrapped in heavy kraft paper bags. They are stored and shipped in insulated containers and storage boxes of varying size. Extruded dry ice pellets are normally stored and shipped in bulk or bags in insulated containers.

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