Carbon dioxide (CO₂) has been used for years in the food and beverage industry for a number of different manufacturing processes. From breweries to carbonated drink production and food preservation, many manufacturers have relied on CO₂ as a vital part of their processes.
Nitrogen is quickly becoming the go-to gas for use in manufacturing instead of CO₂ and there are many benefits to using nitrogen – sustainability, availability, function and more.
Why is carbon dioxide (CO₂) in short supply?
Carbon dioxide, widely referred to as CO₂, is a gas found in our atmosphere. Usually odorless, colorless and non-flammable at a normal temperature, it can be produced in many different ways. It is also one of the most important greenhouse gases linked to global warming.
CO2 has been a constant in the food and beverage industry with its use often found in:
- The preservation of fruits, vegetables and grains.
- The production of carbonated fizzy drinks.
- Preservation of food items through freezing.
- Breweries – for the brewing and manufacture of beer.
CO₂ being produced as a by-product of the oil refining process. This gas was then filtered and sold as a preservative to the food and beverage industry where it was used for things like packaging salads, meats and cheeses which helps to prolong the shelf life of the food.
The benefits of using nitrogen instead of CO₂
If CO₂ shortages occurs in Pakistan, many in the food and beverage industry should shift to suitable alternative for their CO₂ needs. Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is the most plentiful element in Earth’s atmosphere. Nitrogen gas (N₂) is growing in popularity as many manufacturers see the benefits of making the switch to this gas.
Availability of nitrogen
BCAS urges industry to consider nitrogen as an alternative to CO2
As an alternative to CO₂, nitrogen gas can be generated on-site in Pakistan as part of an existing compressed air installation or through the use of a CompAir nitrogen generation system, in place of carbon dioxide. Being able to produce your nitrogen gas in-house will save the stress of worrying about supply shortages as you will be able to produce your nitrogen when you need it.
Nitrogen is easily comparable to CO₂
Nitrogen can function just the same as CO₂ when used in food and beverage manufacturing environments. As stated by the British Compressed Air Society (BCAS), nitrogen can be used in place of carbon dioxide in places like smaller breweries, to remove oxygen when purging tanks which will then prevent oxidation and contamination. Nitrogen can also be used for clean in place (CIP) pipework and vessel purging in the food processing industry. Modified atmosphere packaging is used to replace oxygen with nitrogen, which will significantly slow the process of decay in food.
Sustainability
As sustainability and reducing our carbon footprint becomes a focus not just here in Pakistan but across the globe, many businesses are looking at ways they can reduce their carbon emissions.
CO₂ is commercially produced by the combustion of fossil fuels, such as natural gas, coal, diesel or oil. This of course has a very large carbon footprint and the sustainability impact is big with 87 percent of all human-produced carbon dioxide emissions coming from the burning of fossil fuels like coal, natural gas and oil. In comparison, nitrogen is a naturally occurring gas, making up approximately 78% of the earth’s atmosphere, and it takes very minimal effort to extract. Making the switch to nitrogen could be a simple solution for many businesses that operate in the food and beverage industry. Simply replacing a portion of CO₂ with nitrogen will significantly reduce your carbon footprint.
Cost reduction
Nitrogen can be easily produced in-house, as long as you have the right nitrogen generation set up. In comparison to CO₂ which is often purchased from another manufacturer, switching to nitrogen will be very cost-effective in most situations.
Nitrogen can be manufactured as a by-product of the air compression process, which can reduce the cost by up to 90 percent when compared to purchased third party nitrogen cylinders. Many compressed air manufacturers will offer a range of different nitrogen generation systems that will work in unison with standard industrial compressed air systems. With a nitrogen generation system, pre-treated air is filtered, and the oxygen, water and carbon dioxide are removed. This leaves pure nitrogen, which can be captured at the source, and reused for other processes like food and beverage manufacturing.
As you now know, there are lots of benefits to be had by making the switch from CO₂ to nitrogen. Not only can you significantly improve production and supply, but you can also operate more sustainably, all while saving on manufacturing costs.
At Rastgar Air Compressors we’re experts in industrial air compressors. We have worked with many businesses both big and small across Pakistan, to help them with their compressed air and nitrogen generation needs.