Oxygen
Overview
Oxygen is a Colorless and odorless gas. Many materials burn in oxygen that do not normally burn in air. Reduces the flash-point temperature and increases the combustion speed. Gas density is heavier than air. Oxygen is obtained on a commercial scale by the liquefaction and subsequent distillation of air. For very high purity oxygen it is normally necessary to take the product from an air separation plant through a secondary purification and distillation stage. Alternatively, high-purity oxygen may be produced by the electrolysis of water. Lower purities of oxygen can also be produced with membrane technique.
TEchnical Information
Oxygen Physical Properties
| Formula | O2 |
| Molecular Weight (lb/mol) | 32.00 |
| Critical Temp. (°F) | -181.8 |
| Critical Pressure (psia) | 729.1 |
| Boiling Point (°F) | -297.3 |
| Melting Point (°F) | -361.9 |
| Gas Density @ 70°F 1 atm (lb/ft3) | 0.0828 |
| Specific Volume @ 70°F 1 atm (ft3/lb) | 12.08 |
| Specific Gravity | .1.1 |
| Specific Heat @ 70°F (Btu/lbmol-°F) | 7.03 |
Oxygen Uses and Applications
Oxygen is used:
- in metal treating laser applications. Oxygen is used in cutting and welding.
- for chemical synthesis.
- as an oxidizer.
- to supplement or replace air in burners used in many different industries in order to obtain increased temperatures. Typical applications are found in the steel, non-ferrous, glass and concrete industries amongst many others.
- for flame sealing of glass ampoules for finished products for the pharmaceutical industry and the chemical industry.
- for enrichment of air during fermentation.
- in some cases, for modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) of food stuffs. It is used either pure or in mixtures with carbon dioxide and/or nitrogen.
- in the medical field, as pure gas and in mixtures.
- in calibration gas.
- to the transportation of live fish and seafoods.
Many oxidation reactions in the chemical industry use pure oxygen rather than air in order to benefit from higher reaction rates, easier product separation, higher yields, or smaller equipment size.
High-purity oxygen is used for the formation of silicon dioxide and metal oxide, as an etchant for photoresist, and in mixtures with hydrocarbons for etching silicon. Oxygen is also used in conjunction with hydrogen to fuel torches for welding, brazing, glass blowing and tube sealing for a variety of electronic components such as reed relay switches.
High-purity oxygen is used in conjunction with high-purity methane in Advanced Gas Cooled (AGR) nuclear reactors to maintain an appropriate carbon balance in the (CO₂) gas coolant in the nuclear core.
High-purity oxygen is used in the fiber optic production process.
Injecting oxygen into sewage treatment plants accelerates the decomposition of sewage.
Mixed with other gases, oxygen serves in the production of breathable atmospheres (O₂ + CO₂: reanimation; O₂ + He or O₂ + N₂: underwater diving).
Liquid oxygen is used in liquid oxygen explosives, and as a carburant in space propulsion.
Oxygen Purity Grades
| Product/Purity | Purity Percent | Part Number Prefix |
|---|---|---|
| Oxygen: Research, 6.0 | >99.999% Water < 1 ppm Total Hydrocarbon (as CH4) < 0.5 ppm Nitrogen < 4 ppm Argon < 4ppm Carbon Monoxide + Carbon Dioxide < 1 ppm | OXY5.0 |
| Oxygen: Ultra High Purity Grade | >99.993% Water < 1 ppm Total Hydrocarbon (as CH4) < 0.5 ppm Nitrogen < 10 ppm Argon < 35 ppm Carbon Monoxide + Carbon Dioxide < 1 ppm | OXY4.3 |
| Oxygen: High Purity Grade | >99.8% Water < 5ppm Total Hydrocarbon (as CH4) < 50 ppm Carbon Dioxide < 10 ppm Carbon Monoxide < 1 ppm Nitrogen < 100 ppm | OXY2.8 |
| Oxygen: Zero Grade | >99.6% Total Hydrocarbon (as CH4) < 0.5 ppm | OXY2.6Z |
| Oxygen: Industrial Grade | >99.5% Water < 50 ppm | OXY |
| Oxygen: Food Grade | >99.0% Identity: Positive Odor: None | OXYFG |
| Medical Oxygen: USP Grade | >99.0% Odor: None Identification: Positive Carbon Monoxide < 0.001% (10 ppm) Carbon Dioxide < 0.03% (300 ppm) | OXYUSP |
Oxygen Transportation Information
| Proper Shipping Name | ID Number | Hazard Class or Division | Packing Group | Labeling Requirements | Passenger Aircraft or Railcar Quantity Limitations | Cargo Aircraft Only Quantity Limitations | Additional Shipping Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oxygen, compressed | UN1072 | 2.2 | Not applicable | 2.2; 5.1 | 75 kg or L | 150 kg | N/A |
| Oxygen, Liquid | UN1073 | 2.2 | Not applicable | 2.2; 5.1 | Forbidden | Forbidden | N/A |
Oxygen Conversion Chart
| Weight | Gas | Liquid | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pounds (lb) | kilograms (kg) | cubic feet (scf) | cu meters (Nm3) | gallons (gal) | liters (l) |
|
| 1 pound | 1.0 | 0.4536 | 12.076 | 0.3174 | 0.105 | 0.3977 |
| 1 kilogram | 2.205 | 1.0 | 26.62 | 0.6998 | 0.2316 | 0.8767 |
| 1 scf gas | 0.08281 | 0.03756 | 1.0 | 0.02628 | 0.008691 | 0.0329 |
| 1 Nm3 gas | 3.151 | 1.4291 | 38.04 | 1.0 | 0.3310 | 1.2528 |
| 1 gallon liquid | 9.527 | 4.322 | 115.1 | 3.025 | 1.0 | 3.785 |
| 1 liter liquid | 2.517 | 1.1417 | 30.38 | 0.7983 | 0.2642 | 1.0 |
| 1 short ton | 2000 | 907.2 | 24160 | 635 | 209.9 | 794.5 |