Industries
Restaurants
Carbon dioxide is used frequently in your everyday life in food and drink. You can see carbon dioxide in action anytime you visit a restaurant. CO2 is most commonly used to carbonate soft drinks and beer, which gives your beverage a nice fizz and consistency. Alongside the restaurants, CO2 is used by commercial businesses to store frozen meats, foods and other cold storage items. It’s also the ideal gas for modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), which is used to extend the shelf life of food items in grocery stores, like chips.
Bars
Bars rely on CO2 primarily for beverage preparation and dispensing. It is used to carbonate drinks such as beer and soda, giving them the crisp, bubbly texture customers expect. Draft beer systems use CO2 to maintain pressure, ensuring smooth flow from kegs to taps while preventing foam or flatness. CO2 also helps preserve the freshness of stored beverages like opened wine bottles by creating a protective layer that prevents oxidation. In addition, bars use CO2 for creating specialty drinks, such as carbonated cocktails or those made with dry ice for visual effects. For maintenance, CO2 is instrumental in cleaning draft beer lines to remove buildup and maintain beverage quality.
Breweries
Breweries use CO2 extensively throughout the beer production and packaging process. During fermentation, CO2 is naturally produced as yeast converts sugars into alcohol. Some breweries capture this CO2 for reuse, making their operations more sustainable. Post-fermentation, CO2 is added to carbonate beer to desired levels, ensuring consistency and the perfect fizz for each style. It’s also used during kegging, bottling, and canning to purge oxygen from containers, which helps prevent spoilage and preserve flavor. Additionally, CO2 assists in transporting beer through pipelines within the brewery and plays a role in equipment cleaning, such as purging tanks and lines before use.
Grow Operations
Harnessing CO2 is essential for maximizing cannabis plant potency and yield. CO2 supplementation enhances photosynthesis, supporting robust growth throughout the plant's lifecycle. Proper management of CO2 levels—from the seedling stage to flowering—ensures optimal plant health and productivity. Helget Gas provides reliable CO2 solutions and monitoring equipment to help cultivators maintain ideal growing conditions, boosting both efficiency and safety in cannabis production.
Gas Stations & Convenience Stores
Gas stations and convenience stores use CO2 in several ways to support their operations, particularly for beverage and refrigeration systems. One of the primary uses is in beverage dispensing systems for fountain drinks. CO2 carbonates sodas and other fizzy beverages, delivering the bubbles and crisp taste customers expect. These systems rely on CO2 to maintain consistent pressure and ensure proper flow when dispensing drinks. Additionally, CO2 is sometimes used in refrigeration systems as a refrigerant, especially in newer, eco-friendly setups that aim to reduce environmental impact compared to traditional refrigerants. Proper storage and handling of CO2 tanks are essential for safety in these retail environments.
Industrial
CO2 is utilized in various industrial applications, including concrete manufacturing, water treatment, and special effects for events. In concrete manufacturing, CO2 is employed in carbonation curing to enhance the strength and durability of concrete by sequestering CO2 in the material, which also helps reduce its carbon footprint. In water treatment, CO2 is used to adjust pH levels, particularly in pools and industrial water systems, where it is dissolved into water to manage acidity and prevent scale or corrosion. Additionally, CO2 plays a significant role in the entertainment industry, particularly in events and special effects at concerts, nightclubs, and stadiums. It is used to create dramatic effects such as fog or smoke by releasing CO2 through special machines, which produce low-lying fog that adds atmosphere to performances and large events. This type of CO2 effect is also popular for enhancing visual impact at sporting events and live shows. These diverse applications highlight the versatility of CO2 across industrial, environmental, and entertainment sectors.
Medical
In the medical field, various compressed and liquid gases, including CO2 USP, play critical roles in a wide range of applications. CO2 is frequently used as an insufflation gas during laparoscopic and endoscopic surgeries to expand the surgical area, enhancing visibility and access for surgeons. It is also utilized in cryotherapy, where liquid CO2 treats skin conditions like warts and moles. Additionally, CO2 is employed in respiratory therapy, often mixed with oxygen to stimulate breathing in specific therapeutic scenarios. Other medical gases are equally vital. Oxygen USP (O2) is indispensable in emergency care, anesthesia, and chronic respiratory conditions, providing essential support for breathing. Nitrous oxide USP (N2O) is commonly used as a sedative and analgesic in dental and surgical procedures. Nitrogen NF (N2) is utilized in cryopreservation for storing biological samples such as embryos, blood, and tissues. Liquid Oxygen USP (LOX) is critical in hospital settings, particularly for long-term oxygen supply systems and portable medical devices. Liquid Nitrogen NF (LN2) is widely used in cryosurgery to remove skin lesions and in cryopreservation for the storage of cells, tissues, and other biological materials. These gases, whether compressed or in liquid form, are essential for diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical practices across the medical industry.
Party Supplies
Helium plays a central role in party supply stores, where it is primarily used to inflate balloons for celebrations and events. Helium’s lighter-than-air properties make it ideal for creating floating decorations, a staple of festive occasions. Grocery stores often carry helium tanks for customers to inflate balloons on-site or at home. Beverage dispensers in grocery store delis or cafes may also rely on CO2 for carbonating drinks. Together, helium and CO2 enable grocery and party supply stores to meet a variety of customer needs.
