Oxygen (O2)
Oxygen is a tasteless, odourless gas that constitutes 21% of the atmosphere by volume. Oxygen is used as a respiratory gas by the healthcare industry and also has strong oxidizing properties benefiting many other industries by improving yields, optimising performance and lowering costs. Applications including combustion, oxidation and fermentation can benefit by enriching or replacing process air with oxygen. Oxygen can combine with all other elements except rare gases to oxidise them and consequently produce energy.
Contact with combustible materials may cause fire.Safety
- Keep container tightly closed.
- Keep container in a well ventilated place.
Properties |
U.S. Units |
S.I. Units |
Chemical formula |
O₂ |
O₂ |
Molecular weight |
31.9988 |
31.9988 |
Density of the gas at 70°F(21.1 °C)and 1atm. |
0.08279 lb /ft3 |
1.326 kg/m3 |
Specific gravity of the gas at 70°F (21.1°C)and 1 atm |
1.105 |
1.105 |
Specific volume of the gas at 70°F (21.1°C) and 1 atm |
12.08 ft3/lb |
0.7541 m3/kg |
Density of the liquid at boiling point and 1 atm |
71.23 lb/ft3 |
1141 kg/m3 |
Critical temperature |
-181.4°F |
-118.6°C |
Critical pressure |
731.4 psia |
5043 KPa,abs |
Critical density |
27.23 lb/ft3 |
436.1 kg/m3 |
Boiling point at 1 atm |
-297.33 °F |
-182.96 °C |
Freezing point |
-361.8 °F |
-218.78 °C |
Solubility in water vol/vol at 32°F(0°C) |
0.0491 |
0.0491 |
Industry |
Usage |
Iron and Steel |
Used in high energy combustion that removes impurities. Decarburization of hot metal to produce steel, and to enrich blast furnace air), secondary smelting. Used in oxy-fuel furnace to enhance production. |
Oil and Gas |
Oxygen is used in refineries to enrich air of regeneration of Fluid Cracking Catalytic units (FCC) (up to 28 % in O2) |
Welding and Cutting |
Used as a heat source with acetylene or LPG's, oxygen boosts the flame properties in flame torches and burners.
|
Healthcare |
Oxygen (link to medical oxygen) is used in the treatment of respiratory insufficiencies, in hyperbaric oxygen chambers for the treatment of monoxide poisoning and chronic tissue damage. |
Space |
Propulsion of space vehicles, rocket fuel. |
Paper |
Paper pulp bleaching. |
Petrochemical |
Production of ethylene oxide. |
Glass |
Mainly used for glass melting and all oxy-combustion processes. |
Environmental |
Water purification, odour control and increasing treatment capacity in waste water treatment plants. |
Electronics |
Ultra-pure oxygen is used to oxidize certain materials, such as Si to SiO₂. It is also used to make ozone for oxidations or cleaning. |
Agriculture |
Oxygenation for fish farming. |
Food and beverage |
Used in a small percentage of MAP (link to MAP) mixtures to increase the shelf life of packaged food. |
Chemical |
Oxygen is used to improve the yield of a large number of petrochemical processes. |
Grade |
Cylinder type |
Pressure (Barg) |
Industrial Grade |
50L |
200 |
40L |
150 |
|
5.0 |
50L |
200 |
40L |
150 |
Specification Grade |
Certification Specification |
||||||
H₂O |
CO |
N₂ |
CO₂ |
CnHm |
Rare Gases |
||
5.0 |
< 3 |
<0.5 |
<5 |
<0.5 |
< 0.1 |
inc. |
Supplied with certificate of analysis |