Is Dry Ice Environmentally Friendly?
When dry ice was invented in the 1830s, it was a step forward in food preservation and transportation, entertainment, cleaning, and other industries. However, as environmental issues continued to rise, the need to prevent pollution and ensure sustainable development came knocking.
If you have ever found yourself wondering about the effects of dry ice on the environment, this blog post is for you. Continue reading!
What Is Dry Ice?
The term “dry ice” refers to carbon dioxide in solid form. It is produced by liquefying carbon dioxide and injecting it into a storage tank, where it’s frozen at –78°C / 109°F. It’s then compacted into solid ice and shaped into huge blocks or pellets. The generation and storage of dry ice is an energy-consuming process.
Does Dry Ice Melt?
As stated above, dry ice is the frozen form of carbon dioxide. When heated, dry ice directly turns into carbon dioxide gas without passing through the liquid state—this process where a substantial change into a gas is known as sublimation.
Is Dry Ice Toxic?
Dry ice is neither toxic nor dangerous if it is properly kept and handled. However, it can be hazardous when exceedingly cold. While carbon dioxide is not poisonous, it can cause issues by building pressure or dislodging normal air.
Is Dry Ice Environmentally Friendly?
With the above information plus the knowledge that carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, you might probably be asking, “is dry ice environmentally friendly?” well, you don’t have to worry about using dry ice; it is environmentally friendly.
It never creates or releases excess carbon dioxide into the atmosphere; thus, it does not contribute to the greenhouse effect.
Dry ice is increasingly being used as an alternative for replacing environmentally unfriendly procedures. For example, dry ice blasting uses dry ice pellets instead of chemical cleaners to safely clean many types of industrial equipment.
Other industries benefiting from the environmentally friendly dry ice include meat processing, Agriculture, pest control, food and fuel shipping, and disaster management. For the time being, we’re great fans of dry ice applications, but we constantly strive for the smallest and least hazardous impact feasible.
Dry Ice For All Your Needs
Dry Ice Corp is the largest regional supplier of dry ice and related products in the Northeastern United States. Our ice is fresh and delivered right to your doorstep. We are happy to help you determine the best way to ship your goods, whether you have a huge amount of cookies or a single pie, and help you select the perfect amount of ice for the job. Give us a call at (201) 767-3200 or contact us online for a quote. To connect with us online, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.