The difference between industrial gas purity and quality

Understanding the difference between industrial gas purity and quality is crucial for selecting the right gas for specific applications. It is a common misconception that higher purity correlates to superior quality. For instance, nitrogen with an impressive purity level of 99.999% does not inherently outperform nitrogen at 95%. The essential factor is the application, which dictates the required purity level for effective performance.

Processes such as metal heating, including laser cutting and annealing, necessitate high-purity nitrogen to prevent oxidation when temperatures rise. Conversely, applications like blanketing do not demand the same level of purity; in fact, 95-98% nitrogen is typically sufficient for these applications, ensuring fire and explosion risks are mitigated effectively. Using a higher purity nitrogen in such scenarios yields no additional advantages.

This raises an important point: why does overspecification of purity matter? Companies utilizing on-site gas generators can produce nitrogen or oxygen tailored to their specific needs. This capability allows businesses to significantly reduce their industrial gas costs, as generating lower purity gases requires less energy. Thus, understanding the necessary purity level can lead to both cost savings and heightened efficiency.
Understanding how the purity of nitrogen or oxygen influences their costs is crucial for businesses seeking savings.

In contrast, gases acquired in cylinders, dewars, or bulk deliveries are uniformly high in purity due to their cryogenic production. This often results in a significant number of users overpaying for purity levels that exceed their operational requirements, leading to unnecessary expenses.

As we explore purity levels further, it is essential to note the specifics of nitrogen gas and its classification. Purity represents the proportion of nitrogen within a sample when analyzing it against any impurities present. Gasses can be categorized as high or low purity based on the ratio of nitrogen to contaminants such as oxygen, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. To be classified as high purity, a gas must contain at least 99.998% nitrogen.

Different industries utilize various purity grades according to their specific demands. For those in the food and beverage industry, food-grade nitrogen must meet stringent purity standards of 99.5% and above to aid in packaging and preserving products effectively. Its inert characteristics extend shelf life, preserve flavor, and prevent rancidity in foods.

Similarly, in the medical field, maintaining nitrogen's purity is vital for patient safety. Medical-grade nitrogen, exceeding 99.5% purity, is pivotal in procedures such as cryotherapy and respiratory therapies, where contaminants could jeopardize health. The rigorous quality controls ensure that the nitrogen used is safe for medical applications, allowing for reliable outcomes.

In the industrial sector, nitrogen with purity levels ranging between 95% and 99.5% serves diverse applications cost-effectively. Industries like food packaging and chemical manufacturing rely on industrial-grade nitrogen for processes such as inerting and purging, where the elimination of oxygen is critical for safety and product quality.

In conclusion, understanding the distinctions between industrial gas purity and quality is key to making informed decisions for applications requiring specific nitrogen grades. It is essential for businesses seeking high-purity nitrogen gases for food storage or medical applications to connect with reliable suppliers. For comprehensive solutions, visit Benyuan to explore various offerings. Additionally, you might find interest in our Ultra High Purity Nitrogen Generator and Lab Nitrogen Generator​ to suit your specialized needs.