8
Use of CO 2 as Technical Fluid
(Technological Uses of CO 2 )
Abstract
This Chapter describes the “non-chemical” uses of CO 2 , which means all those
applications in which CO 2 is not converted into other chemicals, but remains the
same species. Some of the applications are quite familiar to the public (food
packaging, low temperature cooling agent, fluid as fire extinguisher, cleaning
fluid, smoke effects, and water treatment), others are typical of industry and less
known to the public. In water treatment, indeed, CO 2 is converted into its
hydrated forms; this is the only case in which CO 2 loses its original nature, as it
happens anytime CO 2 is dissolved in water.
8.1 Introduction
CO 2 is commercialized as a liquid in cylinders (vapor pressure ca. 6.5 MPa), from
which either gas (from the top) or liquid (from bottom) can be spilled, or as a solid
(dry ice). A popular use of liquid and solid CO 2 is cooling of a variety of goods and
food that can be carried out in closed compartments (batch) or else in continuous
apparatuses (tunnels through which goods are passed). In storage compartments, or
even in transport vans, L-CO 2 is sprayed from a cylinder; L-CO 2 is converted into
icy-snow (that covers the surface of the compartment or even of the goods).
Alternatively, dry ice in blocks is used: both icy-snow and blocks upon sublimation
take heat from the environment which is cooled down.
Parts of this chapter were reproduced with permission from Ref. [20]. Copyright 2019, Springer
Nature.
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. Aresta and A. Dibenedetto, The Carbon Dioxide Revolution,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59061-1_8
123
Use of CO 2 as Technical Fluid
(Technological Uses of CO 2 )
Abstract
This Chapter describes the “non-chemical” uses of CO 2 , which means all those
applications in which CO 2 is not converted into other chemicals, but remains the
same species. Some of the applications are quite familiar to the public (food
packaging, low temperature cooling agent, fluid as fire extinguisher, cleaning
fluid, smoke effects, and water treatment), others are typical of industry and less
known to the public. In water treatment, indeed, CO 2 is converted into its
hydrated forms; this is the only case in which CO 2 loses its original nature, as it
happens anytime CO 2 is dissolved in water.
8.1 Introduction
CO 2 is commercialized as a liquid in cylinders (vapor pressure ca. 6.5 MPa), from
which either gas (from the top) or liquid (from bottom) can be spilled, or as a solid
(dry ice). A popular use of liquid and solid CO 2 is cooling of a variety of goods and
food that can be carried out in closed compartments (batch) or else in continuous
apparatuses (tunnels through which goods are passed). In storage compartments, or
even in transport vans, L-CO 2 is sprayed from a cylinder; L-CO 2 is converted into
icy-snow (that covers the surface of the compartment or even of the goods).
Alternatively, dry ice in blocks is used: both icy-snow and blocks upon sublimation
take heat from the environment which is cooled down.
Parts of this chapter were reproduced with permission from Ref. [20]. Copyright 2019, Springer
Nature.
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
M. Aresta and A. Dibenedetto, The Carbon Dioxide Revolution,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-59061-1_8
123