The main applications of carbon dioxide
High purity carbon dioxide is mainly used in the electronics industry, medical research and clinical diagnosis, as a calibration gas for carbon dioxide lasers and detection instruments, and for preparing other special mixed gases. It is also used as a regulator in polyethylene polymerization reactions.
Solid carbon dioxide is widely used in refrigerated dairy products, meat, frozen foods, and other perishable foods during transportation. It is used as a refrigerant in many industrial processes, such as crushing thermosensitive materials, rubber polishing, metal cold treatment, contraction assembly of mechanical parts, vacuum cold traps, etc.
Gaseous carbon dioxide is used for pH control in carbonated soft drinks and water treatment processes, chemical processing, food preservation, inert protection in chemical and food processing processes, welding gases, plant growth stimulants, hardening molds and cores in casting, and for pneumatic devices. It is also used as a diluent for bactericidal gases (i.e., a mixture of ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide is used as a bactericidal, insecticide, fumigant, widely used in medical equipment, packaging materials, clothing, fur, bedding, bone powder disinfection, and fumigation of warehouses, factories, cultural relics, and books).
Liquid carbon dioxide can be used as a refrigerant for low-temperature testing of aircraft, missiles, and electronic components, improving oil well recovery, rubber polishing, and controlling chemical reactions. It can also be used as a fire extinguishing agent.
Supercritical carbon dioxide can be used as a solvent for dissolving non-polar, non-ionic, and low molecular weight compounds, making it widely used in homogeneous reactions.
