As a major component of chlorophyll, Nitrogen plays an important role in agriculture. Crops cannot thrive without sufficient nitrogen, which aids in plant growth and reproduction. Nitrogen is frequently added to soil to make fertilizers.
Nitrogen
Nitrogen (N), a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas, is the most common element in our atmosphere at 78%. It’s a component of all living matter, including water, soil, plants, and the human body. It accounts for about 3% of human body weight. Nitrogen has many useful applications in both its gas and liquid forms. One fun fact about nitrogen is that it’s responsible for the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights’ purple color! When solar wind stimulates nitrogen atoms, the result is the purple and blue-colored lights emitted when the atoms decay.
Nitrogen is unique in that it can be used to prevent fires, but is also used to make explosives. In its natural state, Nitrogen is inert. However, if isolated or harnessed (as in the case of making explosives), it can release a large amount of energy. On the other hand, Nitrogen fights potential fire hazards by eliminating one point in the fire triangle. As a purging gas, its inert nature is denser than oxygen. By removing oxygen, with only heat and fuel remaining, nitrogen eliminates fire’s ability to ignite and thrive.
Rocky Mountain Air is a certified distributor of high purity nitrogen. Specialty gas impurities are analyzed with advanced equipment – the most common being gas chromatographs ¬– at our Salt Lake City plant in concordance with our PurityPlus specialty gas partnership. PurityPlus partnerships certify that we are selling the highest-grade product, and that products will be delivered whenever you need them. This partnership aligns directly with Rocky Mountain Air’s promise to deliver flawless dependability to our customers. Contact your local branch to learn more about PurityPlus specialty gases, or to order a certified mixture today.
Purchase Nitrogen
Nitrogen available in gas, liquid and bulk form, ready for delivery
Primary Application
Agriculture
Food Preservation and Carbonation
Rubber Recycling
Electronics
Nitrogen is frequently used for food preservation in packaging. This method is called “nitrogen flushing”. A nitrogen flush is the process of using nitrogen gas to remove all oxygen from food packaging to prevent oxidative damage. As nitrogen is the heavier gas, it sinks to the bottom, pushing out the oxygen. Liquid nitrogen is also used in preservation to “flash freeze” certain foods. Nitrogen use is quickly increasing in the coffee, tea and beer industries. Nitrogen produces a different type of carbonation than carbon dioxide. CO2 is 50 times more soluble in water than nitrogen, creating larger bubbles for extra fizziness. Nitrogen produces less aggressive bubbles for a finer taste. Matcha teas, black teas, and herbal teas can infuse nitrogen to mimic nitro brew coffee, providing consumers with a less caffeinated option.
The reasons to recycle any disposable material are immense, especially when it comes to waste, like rubber, that takes 50 to 80 years to decompose. The EPA deemed tires as municipal solid waste, as they contain oil and lead. Tires release toxic chemicals throughout the decomposition process, polluting air, water, and soil. If heated, tires become a fuel source that is tough to extinguish. Bathing rubber tires in a bath of liquid nitrogen is one of the most efficient ways to reduce tire waste. At negative 320 degrees Fahrenheit, liquid nitrogen has the capacity to freeze and pulverize rubber, shrinking and snapping bonds between materials, and shattering them into millions of tiny debris that can be molded into brand new products. The carbon footprint of tire waste decreases, with as little as four recycled tires eliminating up to 323 pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the air.
Electronics manufacturing is a complex process. Nitrogen is used to ensure specifications are maintained. Nitrogen maintains the ideal atmospheric temperature, prevents oxidation in soldering, and produces sharper results. Nitrogen prevents overheating in the central processing unit of computers. It’s also widely used in fire suppression systems for I.T. equipment and x-ray machines.
“My business, Larson Lab Supply, has been purchasing bulk LN₂ from USW for decades. Great company to work with over the years and recommend them to anyone.”
Pete Larson