Dry ice safety

What is dry ice?

Dry cold contains carbon dioxide, so the substance has no toxic effect or odor. This substance is a combustion product, but it can only extinguish the fire. This effect is due to the fact that this composition cannot be converted into a liquid, so when heated it instantly turns into a gas.

Nowadays, many companies are engaged in the production of dry ice. However, you can do it yourself. To ensure that the material does not lose its properties, it must be stored in containers made of special materials. And to make ice at home, you need to use special raw materials and follow safety rules.

Safety precautions when working with dry ice

DO NOT SWALLOW DRY ICE. If accidentally swallowed, dry ice can cause serious internal damage. Do not use dry ice to cool drinks.

KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. Only adults are allowed to use dry ice.

ORDER DRY ICE ONLY IN THE SHAPE AND SIZE YOU NEED. Do not saw dry ice or use a hammer to break dry ice into pieces.

CARRY DRY ICE IN THE TRUNK OR BODY OF YOUR CAR. Leave windows open to allow air to circulate. Do not leave dry ice in a parked passenger vehicle. Evaporation of dry ice in an enclosed passenger vehicle can build up dangerous levels of carbon dioxide that can cause asphyxiation. Dry ice can be transported safely without special ventilation in closed cargo compartments of a truck, provided access to the cab is limited. When opening a dry ice cargo hold, allow the enclosed space to ventilate for 5 minutes before entering.

DO NOT STORE DRY ICE IN GLASS OR OTHER SEALED (AIR TIGHT) CONTAINERS. Storing in sealed containers may result in damage or explosion of the container due to too much pressure.

DO NOT USE DRY ICE IN ENCLOSED SPACES. Dry ice produces carbon dioxide vapor, which can cause rapid suffocation.

DO NOT PLACE DRY ICE ON CERAMIC TILES OR LAMINE SURFACES. Use a hard surface - a wooden cutting board or piece of plywood. Dry ice is sometimes used to remove tiles and breaks down the bonding agent that holds the tile or laminate in place.

DO NOT ALLOW DRY ICE DIRECT CONTACT WITH PERISHABLE FOOD OR BOTTLED/CAN BEVERAGES. Food may suffer cold damage and bottled/canned beverages may decompose or explode.

Disposing of unused dry ice

DO NOT DISPOSATE DRY ICE WITH YOUR TRASH. Allow the dry ice to evaporate in a well-ventilated area where carbon dioxide gas cannot accumulate.

DO NOT DISPOSE DRY ICE DOWN THE Drain, SINK OR TOILET. Very low temperatures can damage sink drains, toilet components and pipes.

DO NOT DISPOSE DRY ICE INTO YOUR TRASH CONTAINERS OR TRASH CHIPPER.

DO NOT DISPOSE OF DRY ICE IN PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE AREAS.

Application area of dry ice

This substance is used for the following purposes:

removing dirt from different surfaces;
freezing fruits and vegetables, berries and mushrooms;
long-term storage of food;
production of drinks with gases;
transportation of large quantities of product;
branding of pets;
food storage in air and rail transport;
growing plants in greenhouses;
production of bakery products;
funeral services;
elimination of rodents;
increasing the shelf life of flowers;
dismantling metal parts and ceramic tiles;
medical field;
preventing spoilage of fresh fish;
production of computer equipment.

Proper storage of dry ice

How long the ice is stored depends on how long it will last. When purchasing, you must take into account that about 3 kg of the substance disappears per day. The best option would be to purchase ice shortly before use.

Where to get dry ice

What are oxygen absorbers made of?
Oxygen absorbents are small packages containing iron powder. The bags are made of a material that allows oxygen and moisture to enter, but does not allow iron dust to be produced. How do oxygen absorbers work? Moisture in food causes oxidation of iron in the oxygen absorbent. When iron oxidizes, it absorbs oxygen. Oxygen absorbers with an oxygen content of 300 cubic meters. Well suited for dry packaged products packed in containers up to 4 liters. Is using oxygen scavengers equivalent to vacuum packaging?

Tips for using containers:

The container must be completely closed and have as thick walls as possible. This is the main condition, since due to interaction with warm air the ice will evaporate faster.
Using crumpled paper will reduce the sublimation process. It must be placed in the remaining empty space of the container.
The temperature outside the container should be kept as low as possible. Let's say that in the cold season it can be placed outside, and in the hot season - on a balcony or barn, if it is dark enough and cool enough.

In what form and where can I buy it?

You can buy this substance in the chemical department and even in online stores. Manufacturing companies sell granulated ice to organizations in large thermal containers with a volume of 250-350 liters.

At retail, this substance is sold in containers of 1-25 kg or more. You can store ice at home in a store-bought pack of polystyrene foam for 3 days. To extend the shelf life, you can use an isothermal tank.

There is also dry snow on sale, which is the same substance, but only in the form of flakes. The packaging indicates under what conditions and how long the ice is stored.

Step-by-step instruction

The technology for producing dry ice consists of several stages:

Wear all protective equipment.
Lay the fire extinguisher on its side and securely fasten it to the floor surface.
Remove the seal and safety pin from it.
Place a pillowcase or 3-4 liter bag tightly over the bell and secure it with tape.
Gently press down on the lever. Carbon dioxide will begin to come out of the fire extinguisher. Keep the device open until you have received a sufficient amount of the substance. Depending on the type of fire extinguisher, this period can range from a couple of seconds to several minutes.
Release the lever, remove the cloth from it and shake out the substance from it into the prepared container. This must be done immediately, since the composition will quickly turn into gas at room temperature.
Seal the cracks on the box with wide tape so that the substance does not evaporate from it. It is impossible to ensure complete tightness, but there is no need for this. During the melting process, the volume of the substance increases many times over, and if there is no possibility of expansion, an explosion may occur.

If you have already made dry ice with your own hands, the entire procedure may take about 30 minutes. The main thing is to follow safety precautions when working with carbon dioxide. If you are not going to use the substance immediately, you need to think about where to store it.

To completely eliminate CO 2 evaporation, it is necessary to ensure a storage temperature no higher than -80°C, which is impossible at home. You can somewhat slow down the process of decomposition of the substance by placing the container with it in a regular refrigerator.

The disadvantage of this method is the high percentage of carbon dioxide evaporation, even if all the rules are followed. Therefore, before making dry ice at home in this way, you need to make sure the feasibility of this activity.

After all the procedures, you should definitely refill the fire extinguisher, assemble it and put it in place so that at the right time it can perform its direct function.

Carbon dioxide in the solid state helps in solving various problems - from cooling food without electricity to performing magic tricks at home. With the necessary materials and knowledge, you can make dry ice yourself.

Contents of the article: Dry ice is carbon dioxide, also called carbon dioxide. In its solid state it is white, and when pressed the substance takes on a gaseous form, creating a chic smoke effect. Creating it at home is a rather painstaking job that must be done carefully, following safety rules. To get dry ice, the first thing you need to do is get a special fire extinguisher.

Making dry ice from compressed carbon dioxide at home

Making ice with your own hands does not require specialized equipment or the participation of specialists. The simplest and most popular manufacturing method is using a carbon dioxide type fire extinguisher, which contains compressed gas inside. To do this you need to use the following instructions:

To work, you need tape, a pillowcase, a fire extinguisher, a container for ready-made ice and protective equipment (respirator, glove, special suit).
The socket of the carbon dioxide fire extinguisher must be carefully wrapped with the edges of the pillowcase and secured with tape.
After this, you need to activate the fire extinguisher by removing the safety pin and release the gas within 2-3 seconds. Ice will appear in the pillowcase and look like small granules. The fabric must be removed carefully without coming into contact with the substance, otherwise you may get frostbite.
After this, you need to take the ice from the fire extinguisher and place it in a thermos, a strong plastic bag or a thermos.

Do not store the substance in containers made of ceramic, glass, porcelain or metal.

Dry ice from carbon dioxide cylinders

In the absence of a fire extinguisher, the substance can be made from a can of compressed carbon dioxide. The procedure for extracting ice is carried out according to the same scheme as in the case of a carbon dioxide fire extinguisher. In this case, it is recommended to take cans equipped with immersion tubes.

Dry Ice: Properties and Applications in Everyday Life

Dry ice is a solid form of carbon dioxide (CO2) that is odorless, tasteless, colorless, non-conductive and non-flammable. The temperature of dry ice is -78.33˚ C. The raw material for the production of dry ice is liquid food-grade carbon dioxide (carbon dioxide).

APPLICATION

Dry ice is used primarily for cooling, storing and transporting food products. The value of dry ice lies not only in its cooling effect, but also in the fact that when cooled, “dry ice” does not melt like regular ice, forming moisture, but evaporates completely, without leaving a single gram of liquid, transforming into carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is a medium that prevents the development of microorganisms, and products in its environment do not mold or rot.

HOW TO USE DRY ICE

1. Cooling of food products. Place some dry ice pellets in a thermos or double-walled container, then add food or drink. It is better to avoid direct contact of dry ice with food, because... dry ice temperature -78.33°C. Products can be stored in this way for 5 to 7 days; Placing dry ice in paper or a plastic bag will extend its use time. 2. Cooling drinks. A mixture of dry ice and water ice can be used to cool food, beer and beer kegs. Using only dry ice may freeze the beer or damage the kegs. Dry ice has a freezing ability that is 15 times greater than the freezing ability of water ice; the evaporation time of dry ice can exceed the melting time of water ice by 5 times. ATTENTION! READ BEFORE OPENING AND USING DRY ICE!!! PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

1) the temperature of dry ice is almost -79°C, so direct contact of dry ice with skin must be avoided! You can work with dry ice only with gloves (do not use wet or damp gloves, such gloves will freeze instantly) 2) prolonged contact of dry ice with the skin can cause thermal burns (severe frostbite).* 3) do not place dry ice in a closed container (for example , plastic drink bottle). This procedure is dangerous because dry ice expands approximately 800 times when it evaporates, which can lead to an explosion! 4) keep out of the reach of children!!! 5) do not consume in food or drinks.

SALE OF DRY ICE

at
a price of 150.00 rubles per 1 kg (including VAT)
produced in our organization daily at the address

With. Trinity, st. Central, 2 from 9.00 to 18.00

tel. 31-20-16, 31-20-15

Dry ice at home

What and how to store dry ice?

Before making a substance, you need to prepare a suitable container for its storage. If this is neglected, the substance will quickly evaporate.

A good solution may be to use a special container that is designed for long-term storage of food in the freezer. Such products are made of frost-resistant polymers. You can also use ice cube trays, but they need to be covered with something on top.

To store the prepared substance, you can use thermoses. However, they do not need to be completely screwed in. When this substance evaporates, a lot of carbon dioxide rushes into the surrounding space, which can tear off the lid and deform the vessel during storage. Therefore, when storing in a thermos and similar containers, you need to leave a small gap in the neck so that excess gas escapes through it.

If ready-made containers are not available, you can make the reservoir yourself. For this purpose, you need to take a compact cardboard box and wrap it with tape on each side so that its surface shines. This coating will preserve the composition that needs to be placed on the bottom. The walls and lid of the box should be carefully lined with foam. To fix it you need to use tape.

Security measures

When making and storing this substance at home, you must consider the following safety rules:

It is not advisable to store the substance in an ordinary kitchen refrigerator. The temperature in the freezer of such a device is not enough for it to retain its properties for a long time. In addition, ice has a lower temperature than a freezer, which can cause damage to the refrigeration unit.
It must be taken into account that too much CO2 accumulates in a closed vessel, which will lead to its rupture. When evaporated, the volume of this substance increases 800 times.
It is necessary to make ice only in well-ventilated areas, because... gas evaporation can cause deterioration in health.
The substance should not be allowed to enter the body.
Do not handle the product with unprotected hands. You only need to contact it with gloves.
The product should not be placed on surfaces that could be damaged by low temperatures.

The finished products are accompanied by detailed instructions for their use.

Food grade dry ice granules

Dry ice is solid carbon dioxide (CO2). Unlike regular ice, which forms at 0°C or below, dry ice has a very low temperature (-79°C). Dry ice does not melt like frozen water. Instead, it evaporates (goes directly from a solid to a gas) releasing CO2. Carbon dioxide gas is much heavier than air. In confined spaces with poor ventilation, carbon dioxide can replace air, causing asphyxiation. Also, CO2 vapor can accumulate in low-lying areas in the open air when there is no wind or very little wind. Subject to all storage conditions, dry ice is safe and easy to handle.

Follow the instructions below when using and disposing of dry ice.

AVOID CONTACT WITH SKIN AND EYES! Dry ice has a very low temperature - and can cause severe frostbite within a few seconds of direct contact (frostbite is a cold injury similar to a burn).

DO NOT HANDLE DRY ICE WITH YOUR BARE HANDS. Always use insulated gloves. It is also recommended to wear safety glasses, long sleeves, long pants and shoes. Use tongs when handling dry ice pellets.

DO NOT SWALLOW DRY ICE. If accidentally swallowed, dry ice can cause serious internal damage.